Archive for September, 2008
AirAsia Bhd & Indonesia AirAsia Win Friends Of Thailand Award
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) — AirAsia Group’s airlines, AirAsia Bhd and Indonesia AirAsia, have won the prestigious Friends of Thailand Awards 2008 in the category for international airlines for outstanding contributions to Thailands tourism industry in 2006 and 2007.
In a statement here, AirAsia said the awards, given by Tourism Authority of Thailand every two years, recognised the most outstanding supporters of Thailands tourism industry. (more…)
Mekarsari fruit park ready for Idul Fitri crowd
Monday, September 29th, 2008Mekarsari tourism park has arranged a series of holiday programs to charm the Idul Fitri crowd, including Middle East-themed activities to suit the Muslim holiday, park representatives have said.
In addition to dancing and music, a kafilah (caravan) carnival will be on display, with the park maintaining its tradition of showcasing traditional marawis music (an ensemble of percussion instruments and lutes), rampak bedug drumming music and kendang waroja, a traditional dance from West Java. (more…)
Indonesia aims to open up east with new airport
Monday, September 29th, 2008By Aloysius Bhui
MAKASSAR, Indonesia, Sept 26 (Reuters) - A new airport in the capital of cocoa-and-coffee-producing South Sulawesi province officially opened on Friday, paving the way for an increase in tourism and trade in Indonesia’s eastern islands.
Indonesia’s government has said it needs to spend billions of dollars modernising and building new infrastructure, including roads, ports, power plants and airports in order to increase economic growth. (more…)
Muslim village, Balinese culture
Friday, September 26th, 2008Anton Muhajir, Contributor, Buleleng
Night descended slowly on Pegayaman, a village nestled in a hilly region in the southern part of Buleleng. The quiet ambience was gradually filled with the noise of people getting ready to break their fast.
Groups of children walked along the village’s dusty main road. In their hands were plastic bags filled with cakes and fruits. They chatted animatedly as they delivered the plastic bags to the homes of their relatives and neighbors. (more…)
Getting ready for 2.5m travelers
Friday, September 26th, 2008Triwik Kurniasari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With Idul Fitri just a week away, the city administration is getting ready to manage and monitor this year’s exodus and return traffic flow.
Deputy Governor Prijanto said Wednesday about 2.5 million passengers would be departing from Jakarta to other cities across the country.
He said the number would increase by 12 percent more than last year’s exodus figures. (more…)
Indonesia Tourism Report Q3 2008 - Companies and Markets adds new report
Thursday, September 25th, 2008Indonesia has seen a strong start to 2008 tourist arrival figures. The number of tourists visiting the archipelago during the first quarter increased by 15.68% year on year (y-o-y), to 1,405,456. This increase is very much in line with BMI’s own expectations of a 15% annual rise, so we see no reason to modify our forecasts this quarter. Bali continues to be the engine driving the wider Indonesian tourism industry, with the island welcoming some 197,700 tourists in February alone, an increase of almost 30%. (more…)
Indonesian Supervolcano Mountaineering Challenge of 2008 Launched
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008Jakarta, Sept 17 (ANTARA) – Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik launched a maiden activity of the Indonesian Supervolcano Mountaineering Challenge (ISVMC) of 2008 in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept 11).
To be held in the mountainous areas of Tambora and Rinjani volcanoes in West Nusatenggara (NTB) province on October 14-28, 2008, the ISVMC event poses an alternative of mountaineering activity-based eco-tourism for foreign and domestic mount climbers in a bid to make the Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) program to a success. (more…)
Indonesia to host Asia Pacific Film Festival
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is to host the 52nd Asia Pacific Film Festival (APFF) on Nov. 18 - 21.
“Jakarta as the capital city of Indonesia earns honor after being elected as a host of APFF,” the leading website Kompas.com on Monday quoted the chairman of APFF organizing committee Raam Punjabi as saying.
“Therefore, in return of this, we would like the Jakarta city government to support the event,” he said. (more…)
Indonesia’s Secret Island Retreat
Monday, September 22nd, 2008For years it has lived in the shadow of its more famous neighbour Bali. Now Indonesia’s pristine Lombok Island is making a concerted effort to build itself up as the next Bali, while trying to maintain its natural charm.
Slower to catch the tourism train than its neighbour to the west, Lombok has been promoted as an “unspoiled Bali.But a future $600 million development may see it emerge on par with Bali as a world-class tourism destination, according to the United Arab Emirates-based developer.
Tourists visiting Lombok typically treat it as a side-trip to Bali, staying just a few days.
The Japanese and Australians, Bali’s top two groups of tourists, come to Lombok for the surfing. The Koreans come to honeymoon, and the Europeans see it more like an extension of Bali. (more…)