Indonesia & Bali Tourism New

In the eastern part of Surakarta regency, Central Java, is an eye-catching compound of large buildings on Jl. Ir. Sutami, the road connecting Surakarta with Surabaya, East Java; or to be exact, it stands next to Sebelas Maret University (UNS) and the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute-Surakarta (ISI Surakarta).

An iron fence surrounds this compound of over 5 hectares while the attractive buildings, in a traditional Javanese architectural style, loom high and imposing.

If it did not have a large sign out front identifying it as the Central Java Cultural Park, no one would imagine that this compound of imposing buildings is actually a cultural park, but perhaps a hotel or a university.

A cultural park is typically associated with a single large building, or with structures in a general state of neglect. But the Central Java Cultural Park has a well-kept, landscaped yard where grass grows and large trees tower in neat rows.

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The destruction of nature’s beautiful underwater kingdoms by coastal development, shore runoff and fishing techniques has seen the tourism industry increase conservation efforts

Green sea turtles, cascades of glittering reef fish, blooming coral pillars — countless travelers have come nose to nose with a thriving undersea universe while on vacation.

But increasingly, divers and snorkelers are swimming over bleached hunks of coral devastated by shore runoff or overfishing. From the South Pacific to the Caribbean, coral reefs — which are among the most delicate of marine ecosystems — are bearing the brunt of climate change and other human-driven activities — including coastal development, deforestation and unrestricted tourism.

Now, many in the tourist industry are trying to halt the damage and it is no wonder. The dollars involved in reef-based tourism are significant: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef alone draws about 1.9 million visitors a year, supporting a US$4.2 billion industry. According to the Nature Conservancy, the annual economic value of coral reefs to world tourism is US$9.6 billion.

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Early this week, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee was on a four-day Southeast Asian tour. The destinations were Indonesia and Singapore with the enhancement of defense, economic and trade cooperation on his agenda.

In Indonesia, he co-chaired the third Indonesia-India Joint Commission (JCM) meeting along with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda. It was a routine meeting between the two countries’ officials to review the entire gamut of relations and make plans to enhance them. Usually, the outcome of such a meeting is rarely visible on the field. But this time, it is different.

On defense cooperation, the recent ratification of defense cooperation agreement by the Indonesian parliament has paved the way for future strategic cooperation between the two countries. The first ever meeting of a Joint Committee for India - Indonesia Defense Cooperation in Jakarta on June 12-14, 2007 was one of the results from this agreement. Joint training of defense personnel and the stepping up of maritime security of the vital and strategic Straits of Malacca are also on the table. Moreover, the two countries agreed to jointly produce military equipments in the future.

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Indonesia has announced it will stage a “Visit Indonesia Year” in 2008 — but tourist packages may not include visits to its once pristine tropical forests, savanna grasslands, and lowland forests, as unprecedented deforestation threatens to wipe out these magnificent habitats.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry hopes to attract 6 million foreign tourists and generate around US$5 billion in foreign exchange earnings. As part of the promotion, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officiated at the opening ceremony of the annual Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar on Saturday, and the national airline Garuda sponsored a “Bali Food Festival” in Beijing. The Indonesian Arts Institute is planning an International Arts Festival in November, to draw experts in arts and culture from Europe, Australia, the United States and other Asian countries.

Environmental groups hope some of this revenue will go toward protecting Indonesia’s unique natural assets. Rully Sumada, forest expert at environmental group Walhi, says that 60 percent of the country’s protected and conservation areas have been badly damaged by

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What would you do to get yourself a duck for free? Would you dive into the murky waters of the Cisadane River, not exactly an environmental role model? For many people, mostly young men, the answer was a resounding “Yes”.

A crowd of hundreds, including former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid as well as foreign journalists from China, Korea and Taiwan, gathered on the banks of the Cisadane River in Tangerang regency on June 19, despite the grey sky and light drizzle.

They had been waiting since 11 a.m. for the Pecun Festival, a Chinese celebration with boat races, lion and dragon dances, and “free” ducks. Starting this year, it has been made part of the Cisadane Festival, an effort by the local government to boost local tourism and economy.

The Pecun Festival, also known as Tuen Ng Festival in Hong Kong (Pecun is a term in the Fujian/Hokkien dialect) or Dragon Boat Festival, commemorates the death of Chinese national hero Qu Yuan of the Chu State.

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This year’s Jakarta Anniversary Festival (JAF), which opened Friday, celebrates the 480th anniversary of the capital.

The theme of the 2007 festival is: “My Jakarta, Your Jakarta, Our Jakarta”, cultural and museum agency head Aurora Frida Tambunan said Monday.

“The event is educational, recreational and entertaining for both Jakartans and visitors from other regions,” she said.

The opening of JAF 2007 on Friday was highlighted by a musical performance featuring the Skolastika Ansambel led by Marusya Nainggolan.

Poems were read by three women from different backgrounds — namely Aurora, Titiek Fauzi Bowo (wife of the deputy governor) and Fiona Hoggart (the cultural attache of the Australian Embassy).

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With rapt attention, 30-year-old Sudir cleaned the leaves of the plants in the neatly arrayed pots in his flower garden. The garden is home to hundreds of species of ornamental plants, and Sudir takes good care of them all, watering and spraying them regularly with pesticide.

A little later, a prospective buyer came to his garden to take a look at the flowering plants.

Sudir, a resident of Baturraden and the owner of an ornamental plant stall named Mekar Sari, is one such vendor visitors will find along the way to the Baturraden tourist destination in Banyumas regency, Central Java. These stalls are located about 2 kilometers from the tourist site and are part of Baturraden’s natural tourism attractions.

Sudir told The Jakarta Post that he had been running the business at the same spot for about four years, renting the adjacent plot of land to have space for his flower pots.

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Lamafa, a local term for a whaler in Lamalera village, along with its whaling tradition, was already around hundreds of years ago, before Catholic missionaries entered East Nusa Tenggara in 1500s.

To reach the village, visitors fly 30 minutes from Kupang, the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara, to Lewaleba regency on Lembata Island, and continue the trip by ship or car for another four hours.

The village is believed to be the only place in the country which has traditional whalers.

Carolus Keraf, one of the whalers, said he learned the skill and how to take down a whale with a bamboo spear, from his father, who was also a whaler.

“My father also got the skill from my grandfather,” the 35-year-old Carolus said. Carolus, who has two daughters, still hopes to have a son to inherit his whaling skills.

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Owabong, an acronymic name for “Bojongsari water tourism object” in Bahasa Indonesia, is indeed a unique tourist site. True to its name, Owabong offers entertainment all connected with water, and is a suitable place for water lovers.

The recreation center located in Bojongsari village of Purbalingga regency, Central Java, offers a variety of aquatic games and entertainment, including a swimming pool, a water slide and a miniature river.

The tourism destination, which cost as much as Rp 13 billion in its construction, is special because it is the only one of its kind to be found in the province.

Further, Owabong is popular among tourists because it makes use of the pristine natural water that gushes from local springs.

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Traffic jams have become a regular weekend sight in Bandung’s main street as thousands of tourists flock to the West Java capital city for retail therapy and culinary cuisines.

Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada says tourism is one of many service industries that contributes to the city’s economic growth.

A thriving tourism trade has encouraged city administration to make Bandung a service-focused city in its 2004-2008 development program.

Bandung has grown into a small metropolitan city with dozens of trade, business and office buildings.

And many state companies including PT Telkom, PT Pos Indonesia and train company PT Kereta Api Indonesia have their secured headquarters in town.

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