Yogyakarta goes on tourism road show to S'pore, KL
Yogyakarta goes on tourism road show to S'pore, KL Malaysia, Singapore
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post/Yogyakarta
In an effort to pitch itself as a worthwhile tourist destination, Yogyakarta has sent a delegation to the capitals of Singapore and Malaysia for a promotional tour.
The tour, named The Amazing Jogja Road Show Singapore- Malaysia, was initiated to support new direct flights -- the Yogyakarta-Singapore and Yogyakarta-Kuala Lumpur routes.
The seventy-member delegation, consisting of people in the tourist industry, artists and local officials as well as journalists, departed to Singapore and Malaysia for a week on May 21.
Ahead of the departure, chief of the mission Tazbir, who is also the head of the provincial administration's Foreign Cooperation Division said the local administration and national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia had planned the promotion some time ago.
"If this turns out to be a success, then it will set a good precedent and we will use it as a standard for other promotional programs for tourism," said Tazbir.
The province's top officials, including Yogyakarta administration secretary Bambang S. Priyohadi and regents were expected to join the program. Yogyakarta governor, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and his wife, GKR Hemas, were also scheduled to attend the gala event at Singapore's M Hotel.
"The idea is basically selling Yogyakarta, as a tourist destination, abroad through cultural performances," Garuda Indonesia Yogyakarta's general manager Singgih Prawatyo said.
A number of events have been scheduled in both countries as part of the promotional tour. A business group comprising of some 40 Indonesian travel agents, for example, is scheduled to meet both in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with local businesspeople there.
The Amazing Jogja Nite, comprising a dinner, fashion show, and concert will follow. It is on that occasion that Yogyakartan musicians, dancers, fashion designers, and models are scheduled to perform.
Among the performances, include a traditional dance that is a mixture of Surakarta and Yogyakarta styles and has been choreographed by Didik Nini Thowok's dance company.
Yogyakartan designers Afif Syakur, Nita Azhar and Ramadhani are scheduled to present their latest designs.
While for the concert, a blend of modern and traditional music has been prepared.
The Amazing Jogja Nite in Singapore is scheduled for May 21 while in Kuala Lumpur, for May 24. Performances will also be held in malls and other public places.
"We do realize this effort will not instantly result in an increased number of tourist arrivals. It is a long-term investment that we will benefit from in a few years, if we are successful," Singgih said.
Like many other tourism destinations in the country, Yogyakarta fared badly in the wake of the Bali bombings.
Yogyakarta relies mostly on domestic tourists, which comprise 70 percent of incoming tourists in the province.
It is hoped that the new direct international flights will encourage more foreign tourists to visit Yogayakarta.