Yogyakarta, Solo to host Kraton fiesta in August

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said that Yogyakarta and Solo will host a festival on Kraton, the Javanese kingdom, from August 13 to 20.

"It will be the third festival which will be participated by six Javanese kingdoms including the Kratons of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, Pakualaman Yogyakarta, Kasunanan Hadiningrat, Puro Mangkunegaran, Kesepuhan Cirebon and Kanoman Cirebon," he told newsmen on Saturday.

He added that the festival will be sponsored jointly by the local governments, his office and private sponsors.

He said the festival will feature Kirab Ageng, a great march comprising king and queen, princes, princesses, soldiers, and an exhibition of antiques of the kingdoms and several cultural performances.

According to Joop, his office is also looking for domestic companies to develop tourism and cultural infrastructures in the area surrounding the Borobudur and Prambanan temples in Central Java, and to support tourism industry in the province and Yogyakarta.

"The average length of stay of foreign visitors in Yogyakarta and Central Java is very short due to the lack of live evening entertainment," he said. (icn)