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