Next year, City’s minimum wage to rise by 4.5 percent

Source: BERITAJAKARTA.COM — 10/30/2009 8:14:11 PM

http://www.beritajakarta.com/2008/en/newsview.aspx?idwil=0&id=12863

As part of its efforts to improve public welfare, Jakarta Capital City Government plans to increase its provincial minimum wage (UMP) by 4.5 percent to Rp 1,118,009 from Rp 1,069,865 last year. The new minimum wage will start to be implemented in January 2010.

The increase will be officially announced early November 2009. The increase is not the first; in 2007, the city administration raised the minimum wage by 10 percent, from Rp 819,100 in 2006 to Rp 900,560. And in the following years (2008 and 2009), the minimum wage rose by 8 percent to Rp 972,604 in 2008 and Rp 1,069,865 in 2009.

The 4.5 increase is calculated based on fair living needs (KHL) in Jakarta. Based on survey in 2007, the city’s KHL was recorded at Rp 1,055,000 per month. Therefore, by the new minimum wage set for 2010 (Rp 1,118,009 per month), it means that labors in Jakarta can enjoy a fair living.

Not only that, the increase also considers other factors such as components of public needs and the ability of employers.

In regard to the minimum wage increase, Jakarta Capital City Administration Secretary Muhayat says the decision has been approved in a meeting involving labor union, Jakarta employers association, and Jakarta government. “The increase is a final decision. It will be immediately endorsed by Jakarta Governor in a governor regulation, and to be implemented in January next year,” said Muhayat at City Hall, Jakarta, Friday (10/30).

Jakarta Capital City Department of Labor and Transmigration head Deded Sukendar says the minimum wage increase is also based on the prediction of inflation increase in Jakarta as well as the potential of economic growth. The improving condition of Jakarta’s economy in the wake of global economic crisis in 2008 is also among the considerations, he says.

Pertaining to the issue, head of Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) of Jakarta chapter, Soeprayitno says, so far, there has been no complaint from employers concerning the increase, because the hike amount is still considered normal. Even, he predicts that the new wage will bring about a positive impact to investment climate in the Indonesian Capital City of Jakarta.

Politicians likely to dominate Yudhoyono's next Cabinet

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/19/politicians-likely-dominate-yudhoyono039s-next-cabinet.html

Mustaqim Adamrah and Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Cikeas, West Java Mon, 10/19/2009 9:33 AM
Headlines


Political analysts fear that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has interviewed 30 potential candidates to fill his next Cabinet as of Sunday, will pick many more politicians than professionals.


Nineteen out of the 30 candidates interviewed on Saturday and Sunday were politicians rather than professionals, which many observers have warned would make it harder for the new Cabinet to perform better than the previous one.

Yudhoyono said all candidates interviewed on Saturday and Sunday were to hold ministerial and non-ministerial posts.

“Pak Boediono and I can say that all the potential candidates we have interviewed so far have met the standards. But it’s not final yet,” he said on the sidelines of the Cabinet member selection.

Yudhoyono interviewed 14 ministerial candidates at his private residence in Cikeas, West Java, on Sunday.

Candidates included Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, University of Indonesia economist and Democratic Party member Darwin Saleh, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Mohamad S. Hidayat, scholar from Lambung Mangkurat University in South Kalimantan Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Prosperous and Justice Party’s (PKS) advisory board member Suharna Surapranata, and Indonesian Women Congress (Kowani) chairwoman Linda Amaliasari Gumelar.

In the second session in the afternoon, investment firm Ancora Capital owner Gita Wirjawan, Golkar Party member and state logistics firm Perum Bulog chief Mustafa Abubakar, National Awakening Party (PKB) politician Helmy Faishal Zaini, National Mandate Party (PAN) secretary-general Zulkifli Hasan, PAN politician Patrialis Akbar, the United Development Party (PPP) legislator Suharso Monoarfa, Democratic Party politicians EE Mangindaan, and physician Nila Juwita Anfasha Moeloek were interviewed.

On Saturday, Yudhoyono talked to 16 politicians and professionals believed to be part of his next Cabinet lineup.

Among them were former chief commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Marshall (ret.) Djoko Suyanto, State Secretary and PAN politician Hatta Radjasa, former Golkar legislator Agung Laksono, Tifatul Sembiring of the PKS, West Sumatra Governor Gamawan Fauzi, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu, PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Democratic Party politician Syarif Hasan.

Political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) Siti Zuhroh said Yudhoyono was still “too kind” to his coalition parties in distributing Cabinet seats.

“Seat allocation between politicians, professionals and gender is still unbalanced. It will make it too difficult for the second 'rainbow' Cabinet to make a breakthrough in developing the country in the next five years,” Siti said.

“It will also be difficult for the next Cabinet to work effectively if professionalism is still neglected.”

Djoko, a Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University alumnus who will likely retain his post as the public works minister, said he was tasked with overcoming issues in infrastructure development, while Darwin said he was to hold a post related to economic growth, social welfare, and investments.

Backed by the Aburizal Bakrie-led Golkar Party and Kadin members, Hidayat said he was asked to join the government’s economic team in the industry or trade portfolio.

Gusti said Yudhoyono had asked him to help “overcome the impact of climate change and other environmental issues”, while Suharna was asked “to support economic development based on competitiveness and natural resources with the use of technology and science”.

Two women, Linda and Nila, were interviewed on Sunday. Linda said she was told to protect and
help empower women, while Nila was expected to help the country lower mother and children’s mortality rates.

Gita said he accepted a mandate to increase foreign and domestic investment, while Mustafa said he was tasked with helping “rejuvenate” ailing or loss-making state enterprises.

Zulkifli said he was asked to pay more attention to forest fires and help overcome overlapping spatial regulations among different government institutions.

Patrialis said he was asked to harmonize regulations among government institutions and help expedite government-proposed bills.

Political expert from University of Indonesia Lili Romli said "Yudhoyono should avoid giving strategic posts to figures from political parties".

Time to be more optimistic than ever for Bali tourism market

by Djodi Trisusanto , Consultant Fri, 09/11/2009 2:48 PM Business
The writer is the vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle Indonesia

Source:  http://www.thejakartapost.com/

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/11/time-be-more-optimistic-ever-bali-tourism-market.html

The JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Bombings in Jakarta last July may have caused a setback for the Bali tourism market that has performed relatively very well despite the global financial crisis and the threat of a global H1N1 pandemic.


The growth of the Bali tourism market has been fueled by regional and international Meeting Incentive Conference and Exhibition (MICE) events and depends not only on the global economy but also on the safety and security aspects of the island.

Recent data derived from the international direct arrivals to Ngurah Rai Bali, however, have shown a relatively stable growth during the period after the bombings in July.

International tourist arrivals for the seven months up to July 2009 were recorded at over 1.2 million, a growth of around 12 percent over that of 2007.

Security measures and government initiatives to minimize the effect of recent Jakarta bombings on the Bali tourism market as well as efforts to capture and to bring the perpetrators to justice have given confidence and positive perception to international tourists that Bali remains a safe tourist destination.

The continued growth of Bali tourism market, albeit slower than in 2008, was not anticipated given the magnitude of the economic crisis felt during the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

Most analysts had predicted that global international tourist arrivals would decline following the global financial crisis with corporations expected to cut travel and meeting programs.

Bali was no exception with many of the feeder countries such as UK, US and Japan expected to be greatly affected by the crisis with unemployment rising and consumer confidence declining.

As a result earlier in the year UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) predicted that international arrivals would decline between 2 percent and 3 percent.

Contrary to these forecasts, Bali has again, just as for the past three years in a row, proven to be resilient.

Arrivals from its key feeder countries have mostly continued to increase as indicated on the following graph showing international arrivals to Ngruah Rai Bali for Year-to-Date June (YTD) 2009.

As shown on the graph, aside from Japan, South Korea, Japan and Germany, almost all key markets exhibited growth during the period with tourists from China, France, and Australia recording the highest year-on-year increases of about 55 percent, 40 percent and 39 percent respectively.

This is followed by the growth in visitors from Malaysia (28 percent), Singapore (16 percent), Russia (5 percent) and UK (2 percent). Other source markets grew marginally.

With loyal repeat visitors from Japan, Europe and Australia and the ability to always find new markets such as China, India, and Russia, the Bali tourism market is expected to outperform other markets globally.

Civil unrest and political instability in Thailand and the favorable tourism environment in Bali have helped its performance to date. The outlook of the Bali tourism market would continue to be positive.

Jones Lang LaSalle has listed the following factors affecting Bali's continued tourism market growth:

Improved aviation safety standards, in response to the newly enacted Aviation Law No. 1 2009, with the EU lifting the two-year ban on selected Indonesian carriers, including Garuda Indonesia, as from July 2009.

The popularity of Bali, voted for the seventh year running as the "Best Island in the World" by Travel and Leisure Magazine in 2009, reinforcing its position as one of the world's top destinations

In addition to the existing luxury brands in Bali that include Bvlgari, Four Seasons, Aman, and Orient Express, the newly opened and upcoming branded hotel developments such as St. Regis, Alila, Banyan Tree, and the Retreat and Spa will strengthen Bali's positioning as a favored travel destinations amongst affluent international leisure travelers

The diversity of Bali's hotel supply that has been in the past few years expanded with different kinds of accommodation targeting a large spectrum of international travelers, from long staying travelers that demand more privacy and tailored services to week-end travelers that demand relatively simple but central locations. This includes private villas in cliff locations and mountain resorts in Ubud and condo hotels in Kuta, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua

Recovery of the global economy with expected recovery of the Japanese, South Korean, and Taiwanese markets that in the past have been predominant.

Large and strong domestic market that has been one of the main market sources for hotels particularly in popular destinations such as Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Kuta.

Political stability and strong government for the next five years following the successful presidential election in July 2009. This will ensure continuation of infrastructure developments and promotion of sustainable development that is much needed for Bali's future.

‘Thousands trapped’ under rubble

Source: The Jakarta Post, Thu, 10/01/2009 9:38 AM
 
Headlines

A powerful earthquake rattled the city of Padang, West Sumatra, on Wednesday, leaving at least 75 dead and trapping thousands under flattened buildings, officials said.


The death toll was likely to increase as many buildings, including houses, hotels, schools and shops, collapsed, Vice President Jusuf Kalla told a news conference in Jakarta after chairing an emergency meeting on the disaster response and coordination.

As communication lines were cut, the number of victims in the Pariaman regency, which is nearest to the epicenter in the Indian Ocean, are still unknown. A Pariaman native, the politician Indra Piliang, said as quoted by detik.com, “almost all houses are flattened.”

Rustam Pakaya, the head of the Health Ministry's disaster center in Jakarta, said thousands of people were still trapped in the rubble of buildings.

The 7.6-magnitude quake sparked fires and there were power outages across the entire city. The roof of Padang's Minangkabau Airport reportedly collapsed, forcing a temporary closure, and roads and bridges were destroyed.

Tremors were felt in Medan, Pekanbaru, Jambi, Bengkulu and other areas across Sumatra Island, as well as in Singapore and Malaysia, meteorologists and witnesses said, causing widespread panic in all affected towns.

A tsunami warning for countries around the Indian Ocean was issued after the earthquake struck Wednesday evening, but was lifted an hour and a half later.

Heavy rainfall later in the evening worsened the situation in Padang, as most victims lacked emergency tents for shelter.

Witnesses told local television and radio hundreds of houses had collapsed and a road to the coastal town of Padang was cut off, while flights were canceled to the city, airlines officials said.

TV footage showed devastation, with piles of rubble and collapsed houses in Padang.

“Hundreds of houses have been damaged, there are fires, bridges are cut and there is extreme panic here. Ruptured water pipes have triggered flooding,” said a Reuters witness in the city, before his cell phone was cut off.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.9, and struck 50 kilometers off the coast of Sumatra.

However, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) in Medan put the quake’s magnitude at 7.6.
Its epicenter was 71 kilometers under the sea off Pariaman, 70 kilometers from Padang. The quake hit at around 5:16 p.m. for about four minutes along the same fault line that spawned the massive Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

The Health Ministry has dispatched medical teams carrying medicine and food supplies for the quake victims. Rustam Pakaya said teams from health agencies in Medan and Palembang were on their way to West Sumatra towns.

“Tomorrow [Thursday] morning about 40 doctors, including specialists, will fly to Padang on a humanitarian mission,” Rustam said.

Another medical team will depart from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta at about 6 a.m., he added.

Medan's BMG spokesman Rifwar Kamin said the areas in North Sumatra hardest hit by the quake included Nias Island.

Although the strong temblor was felt in Medan, no casualties were reported from North Sumatra.

Widespread panic hit Pekanbaru, forcing residents, including Riau deputy governor Mambang it, to flee buildings to seek safety in open fields, as traffic came to a standstill at roads across the province's capital city.

Tremors were felt in Pasir Pangarayan, the capital of Rokan Hulu regency, some 240 km from the epicenter in Pariaman. Yuslena, a schoolteacher in Rokan Hulu, said several buses had to stop because their drivers could not control them.

“The drivers were worried they would hit other vehicles so the passengers got off to seek safety,”
she said.

Residents in Padang were recently still recovering from the latest major quake in 2007.

They had also felt tremors in the 2005 quake which hit Nias, and the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Aceh and Nias.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/01/%E2%80%98thousands-trapped%E2%80%99-under-rubble.html

Indonesian Tourism Ministry Expects More Visitors in 2010

by Nurfika Osman

Confident that tourists will see past the recent terrorist attacks in the country, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said it would raise its target for foreign arrivals next year to seven million, or 500,000 more than this year’s goal.


“We are planning to raise the target for foreign tourist arrivals in 2010 to seven million, taking into account security improvements in Indonesia as well as the growth in arrivals this year,” said Sapta Nirwandar, a marketing director at the ministry.

He said the ministry was optimistic the target would be reached as the number of arrivals from January through July this year was up 2.6 percent from the first half of 2008.

Over the first seven months of this year, the number of international arrivals rose to 3.6 million, up from 3.5 million.

“The number of tourists is increasing every year, meaning that people trust Indonesia despite the bombings that occurred a few months ago,” he said.

He added that vacationers from Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, China, Korea, Russia and Japan were always enthusiastic about coming to this country.

“The number of Australian tourists is up 25 percent from the same period last year,” he said, adding that from January to July 267,000 Australian arrivals had been recorded.

He said the ministry was collaborating with stakeholders, businessmen and local tourism agencies to help the leisure industry expand.

“Tourism is the second-largest source of income for the country after the oil and gas sector,” he said. “That is why tourism is so important.”

He also said that despite the economic crisis affecting many nations, tourists would still come to escape from stress.

“Compared to other countries, we can offer them cheaper prices and astonishing beauty. Sure, they will come to our country,” he said.

The ministry is also working with the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of Forestry in a carefully planned campaign to make Komodo National Park one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

On July 21, the Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation announced that the park had made the final cut and would vie with 26 other natural landmarks worldwide to be named one of the Seven New Wonders.

The announcement came just days after suicide bomb attacks at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels killed nine people and injured 55.

Source:
 http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-tourism-ministry-expects-more-tourists-in-2010/332381

The History of Jakarta

The History of Jakarta dates back from around 500 years ago in a small part of the downstream of Ciliwung River. During centuries later, the city port grew into a bustling international trade center.


The story of Jakarta at the earlier phase emanates from the diverse ancient inscriptions found in the nearby port. The untold stories of Jakarta up until the earlier arrival of European colonialists were very scarce.

European writers reported that at early 16 century Kelapa was the port's name of a Hindus Kingdom called Sunda with Pajajaran as its capital city. It was located around 40 kilometers near the city of Bogor nowadays.

Portugal was the first biggest group of Europeans coming to Kelapa Port. The City was then under assault by mob led by a young man named Fatahillah from a given kingdom near Kelapa. Afterwards on June 22, 1527 Fatahillah changed the name of Sunda Kelapa into Jayakarta. Hence, the date is commemorated as the date of birth of the City Jakarta. The Dutch came by the end of the 16 centuries and took control of Jayakarta.

The name Jayakarta was then changed into Batavia. The geographical condition of the city Batavia was more or less the same as that of the Netherlands their native soil. They built canals in anticipation of the floods inundation. The central of the city administration was concentrated around a field located 500 meters from the port. They also built a beautiful city municipality, which was also the central of the Batavia city administration. In the long run the city Batavia developed southward. The rapid growth of the city contributed the environmental damages so that the Dutch colonialist forced to move its central administration into higher lands. Later, the spot was named as Weltevreden.
 
Source: http://www.jakarta.go.id/en/

RI expecting increased ASEAN-S Korea relations in 21st century

Jeju (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is expecting increased relations between members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and South Korea in various sectors to achieve a new stage of regional relations in the 21st century.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his speech at the Asean-South Korea summit to mark the 20th anniversary of the relations between South Korea and Asean here on Monday, the anniversary event was a good start which must be continued further.

"We are here not only to celebrate the anniversary but also to forge future relations between Asean and South Korea in the 21st century," he said before the South Korean and other Asean member countries` heads of government.

He said there were a number of things to do to develop the relations between Asean countries and South Korea such as increasing peoples` relations through student exchanges, tourism, cooperation between private sectors, sister-city relationship and cultural relations.

Other fields of cooperation are research and development to create a competitive economy and in the handling of climate change.

"South Korea is committed to green growth programs while Asean has tropical forest resources so that we could jointly reduce greenhouse effects," he said.

Asean and South Korea, he said, must also increase cooperation in the fields of food and energy resilience which had now become a main issue with regard to people`s life.

"Finally we must ensure that cooperation between Asean and South Korea in the 21st century will lead to creating a stable, dynamic and peaceful region. Asean and South Korea both fight for peace and friendship. Now we have an opportunity to play our roles in the best possible way," he said.

The event was attended by South Korea President Lee Myun Bak, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Laotian Prime Minister Bouasane Bouphavanh, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Sultan Hasanah Bolkiah of Brunei, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Vietname Prime Minister Nguyn Tan Dung.

Source: ANTARA News


www.budpar.go.id

Garuda to use Airbus to serve Beijing-Jakarta route

Beijing (ANTARA News) - Garuda Indonesia plans to use an Airbus plane to serve the Beijing-Jakarta route starting early next year as part of efforts to provide better services to passengers.


The plan to use an Airbus plane was aimed at anticipating fierce competition among airline companies which had switched to large-bodied planes to serve the route, Beijing-based Garuda General Manager Sentot Mujiono said here on Sunday.

"Amidst the fierce competition we hope that the use of a large-bodied plane starting early next year will encourage more and more people to choose Garuda for Beijing-Jakarta flights," he said.

Garuda has so far used a Boeing 737 NG plane to serve the route.

Sentot said he was optimistic that the national flag carrier would be able to compete with foreign airline companies and attract as many passengers as possible.

Asked to comment on a complaint that Garuda offered higher fares than other airline companies, he said the complaint was unfounded now that Garuda passengers got all kinds of comfort during flights.

Among the comfort was that Garuda left Beijing in the morning and arrived in Jakarta in the evening, he said.

"The departure and arrival time actually benefits passengers because they arrive at the airport of destination before night. In addition, our cabin services are not inferior to those of foreign airline companies," he said.

At present Garuda flies from Beijing to Jakarta on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and from Jakarta to Beijing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using a Boeing 737 plane of new generation. (*)

Source: ANTARA News

Keep the BI Rate at 6.50%

Today, Bank Indonesia has decided to keep the BI Rate at 6.50%. In the view of the Board of Governors, the monetary relaxation since December 2008 with BI Rate easing 300 bps to 6.50% offers ample support for the economic recovery process and bank intermediation. At 6.50%, the BI Rate level is also deemed consistent with achievement of the 2010 inflation target, set at 5%±1%.

The Board of Governors is confident of gathering momentum for improvement in the domestic economy. Various indicators point to steadily rising expenditures on private consumption, driven by the availability of consumer financing and consumer confidence in the economic outlook. Externally, exports are mounting in line with the economic improvement in the region led by China and India. Regarding prices, inflation was up in August 2009 in keeping with the seasonal trend with the onset of the Ramadan fasting month, but is set to ease further in the final months of 2009 with support from the appreciating rupiah exchange rate, low imported inflation and falling public expectations of inflation. Looking forward, inflation in 2010 is forecasted to return to normal alongside renewed strength in domestic economic activity and commodity prices.


In the financial sector, financial system stability remains sound overall. The banking system is showing improved response to monetary relaxation with steady expansion in bank lending and progressive adjustment in bank lending rates. In aggregate terms, banking liquidity is sufficient for bank financing of the economy. At the micro level, the banking industry is in stable condition, reflected in a robust capital adequacy (CAR) at 17% and subdued NPLs at below 5%.

With steadily mounting optimism for improvement in the economy, lending is forecasted to maintain expansion as the uncertainties in the real sector continue to fade. Commitments by some banks to lower their deposit rates are expected to prompt even further reductions in loan interest rates alongside increased bank lending. Bank Indonesia will keep a close watch on the operation of these commitments and also pursue added measures to strengthen banking efficiency with the objective of promoting even further cuts in loan interest rates. In monetary operations, beginning Monday, 7 September 2009, Bank Indonesia will offer Repo transactions in the 3-month tenor alongside existing Repo instruments in a move designed to keep banking liquidity at adequate levels and anticipate growing needs in keeping with the improved lending outlook.

Looking forward, Bank Indonesia will continually monitor global economic developments and take the necessary measures to safeguard macroeconomic stability while maintaining a conducive climate for the economy.

A complete account of the deliberations of the September 2009 Board of Governors’ Meeting, presenting macroeconomic developments, monetary policy and the outlook for 2009, will be published in the Monetary Policy Report (MPR).

Jakarta, 3 September 2009

Bank Indonesia

Office of the Governor

Dyah N.K. Makhijani

Director


Source: http://www.bi.go.id/

Jumlah Wisatawan Mancanegara Juli 2009 Naik 7,78 Persen

Jumlah wisatawan mancanegara (wisman) yang datang ke Indonesia pada Juli 2009 mencapai 593,4 ribu orang atau naik 4,59 persen dibanding jumlah wisman Juli 2008 sebanyak 567,4 ribu orang. Begitu pula jika dibanding Juni 2009, jumlah wisman Juli 2009 naik 7,78 persen.


Jumlah wisman yang datang melalui 11 pintu masuk utama pada Juli 2009 naik 8,22 persen dibanding bulan yang sama tahun sebelumnya, yaitu dari 471,7 ribu orang menjadi 510,5 ribu orang. Jika dibanding Juni 2009, wisman yang datang melalui 11 pintu masuk naik 9,33 persen.

Jumlah wisman ke Bali melalui Bandara Ngurah Rai pada Juli 2009 naik 23,28 persen dibanding Juli 2008. Dibanding Juni 2009, jumlah wisman ke Bali mengalami kenaikan sebesar 17,23 persen, yaitu dari 200,5 ribu orang menjadi 235,0 ribu orang pada Juli 2009.

Secara kumulatif (Januari-Juli) 2009, jumlah wisman mencapai 3,56 juta orang atau naik 2,56 persen dibanding jumlah wisman pada periode yang sama tahun 2008 sebanyak 3,47 juta orang.

Tingkat Penghunian Kamar (TPK) hotel berbintang di 14 provinsi pada Juli 2009 mencapai rata-rata 52,62 persen, atau turun tipis 0,03 poin dibanding TPK Juni 2009 sebesar 52,65 persen. TPK hotel berbintang di Bali pada Juli 2009 turun 1,27 poin bila dibanding Juni 2009, yaitu dari 62,77 persen menjadi 61,50 persen.

Rata-rata lama menginap tamu asing dan Indonesia pada hotel berbintang di 14 provinsi selama Juli 2009 adalah 1,98 hari turun 0,03 poin dibanding keadaan Juni 2009.

Jumlah penumpang kereta api pada bulan Juli 2009 mencapai 18,4 juta orang, yang berarti naik 1,34 persen dibanding bulan Juni 2009, demikian juga jumlah barang yang diangkut kereta api naik 3,59 persen menjadi 1,7 juta ton. Selama Januari-Juli 2009, jumlah penumpang mencapai 120,1 juta orang atau naik 6,80 persen, sebaliknya jumlah barang mencapai 11,0 juta ton atau turun 2,34 persen dibanding periode yang sama tahun 2008.
Jumlah penumpang angkutan laut dalam negeri yang diberangkatkan pada bulan Juli 2009 tercatat 542,4 ribu orang atau naik 12,45 persen dibanding bulan Juni 2009 dan jumlah barang yang diangkut naik 4,08 persen menjadi 13,3 juta ton. Dibandingkan dengan periode yang sama tahun 2008, selama Januari-Juli 2009 jumlah penumpang mencapai 3,3 juta orang atau turun 4,15 persen dan jumlah barang yang diangkut 90,3 juta ton atau turun 7,15 persen.

Jumlah penumpang angkutan udara domestik pada bulan Juli 2009 mencapai 3,3 juta orang atau naik 8,61 persen dibanding bulan Juni 2009, sedangkan jumlah penumpang tujuan luar negeri (internasional) naik 1,61 persen menjadi 714,3 ribu orang. Selama Januari-Juli 2009 jumlah penumpang domestik mencapai 19,8 juta orang atau naik 5,23 persen, dan jumlah penumpang internasional mencapai 4,3 juta orang atau naik 5,94 persen dibanding periode yang sama tahun 2008.

Source: BPS - http://www.bps.go.id/

Belajar Dari Penjual Ketoprak di Mega Kuningan

Hanya mau 'sharing' cerita, khususnya bagi penggemar ketoprak..


Ada penjual ketoprak dekat rumah, di jalan Perintis, Mega Kuningan. Dengan hanya memakai gerobak mangkal di ujung gang sebelah SD.Hampir setiap hari buka, dari sekitar jam 6 malam sampai sekitar jam 11 malam (terkadang tutup lebih awal karena sudah habis). Namanya pak Roni, yang setiap berjualan ditemani oleh istrinya.

Banyak yang mengantri, dan hebatnya pak Roni hafal pembeli yang harus dilayani dulu (setelah pembeli menyebutkan pesanannya). Urutannya benar dan jarang salah, paling cuma satu atau dua kali salah (namanya juga manusia pasti ada salah). pak Roni seolah olah memotret wajah pembeli sambil menghafalkan pesanannya kemudian disimpan di file otaknya. Dan file itu dikeluarkan lagi kalau sudah tiba gilirannya.

Rasanyapun menurut saya yang sudah berlangganan 4 tahun enak sekali, beda dengan ketoprak yg lain. Keliatannya Pak Roni tetap menjaga kualitas rasa dari hari ke hari. Bahan baku seperti touge & bihun sudah direbus lebih dulu. Tahu, langsung dibeli di pabriknya, ketupat dan kacang tumbuk dibuat sendiri sehingga dapat dijaga kualitasnya.

Setiap saya membeli urutan pembuatannya selalu sama, hanya kalau dilihat lebih detail bahan utamanya (kacang tumbuk) mengalami beberapa kali perubahan. Setelah bincang bincang sedikit ternyata diwaktu luangnya Pak Roni tetap melakukan eksperimen walaupun jualannya selalu ramai setiap harinya. Perubahan yang saya lihat, pertama kacang tumbuknya keliatan agak gosong & sedikit berair (katanya airnya keluar dari kacang). Kemudian warnanya berubah menjadi lebih cerah (katanya goreng kacangnya tidak sampai gosong). Dan terakhir, kacang tumbuknya kering tidak berair & warnanya jg cerah.

Harganyapun masih relatif murah, hanya Rp. 5,000 per porsi. Hanya naik Rp.500 disaat ada kenaikan harga.

Inti dari cerita ini Pak Roni si penjual ketoprak:

1. Tetap menjaga KUALITAS rasa

2. Tetap ber EKSPERIMEN atau ber INOVASI untuk menghasilkan yg lebih baik, walaupun sudah ada marketnya

3. Tetap menetapkaan HARGA yang relatif murah

4. Tetap melayani pembeli yang lebih dulu datang dengan cepat dan jarang salah. Berarti memberikan SERVICE yang baik.

Menurut saya pantes saja dagangannya selalu banyak yang membeli.Mudah mudahan cerita diatas bisa menambah hal yang positif buat kita semua.

Silahkan mencoba kalau mau tau rasa ketopraknya.... tapi harus sabar kalau dapet antrian yang panjang ya...;)

Selamat mencoba