Jakarta Old Town to be car-free this Sunday

Several streets in Central Jakarta's Old Town area will be closed to motorists Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. to reduce air pollution at the tourist destination.

The city administration has announced the Old Town area will be a car-free zone on the fourth Sunday of every month, beginning in November. The move is in accordance with a 2005 bylaw on air pollution control.

The policy will affect Jl. Pintu Besar Utara, Jl. Cengkeh and Jl. Tongkol, which are home to Fatahillah Square, the Jakarta Museum, the Puppet Museum and Red House.

In addition to closing streets, the administration has organized a variety of programs and performances to draw visitors.

"We will collaborate with the Old Town Society to facilitate a mass aerobic exercise, a bazaar of traditional cuisine and traditional attractions such as the Chinese lion dance and performances of the West Java stringed musical instrument kecapi in the courtyard of Fatahillah Museum," he said.

Old Town Society consists of residents and shop owners in the area, which is known for its historic buildings, which date back as far as the 17th century.

The 3rd Internasional Ecotourism Business Forum 2007

ECOTOURBIZ 2007 invites you to attend the conference, which will be held at Wonosobo, Central Java on 30th November to 3rd December 2007, The three-day conference will bring together ecotourism associations and networks from around the world, along with each other interested organizations and individuals. tourism academics, tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, officials of tourism associations, tourism offices, and NGOs.

Third International Eco-Tourism Business Forum

PLANNING, MANAGING & MARKETING ECOTOURISM

TENTATIVE PROGRAM
30 November - 3 December 2007
Gallery Hotel Kresna, Wonosobo, Central Java - Indonesia
Day 0: Friday, 30 November 2007: ARRIVAL

Arrival & Registration
Time Description Remarks

09:00 – 18:00 Arrival of all delegates Venue:
Registration for buyers, Sellers, Speakers Kresna Hotel
Participants & Exhibitors

Day 1: Saturday, 1 December 2007 PRE-TOUR, WELCOME DINNER
Arrival & Registration
09:00 – 18:00 Arrival of all delegates Venue
Registration for Buyers, Sellers, Speakers, Kresna Hotel
Participants, Media & Exhibitors
- Familiarization Tour of Ecotourism Organized by:
Destinations Central Java
- Exhibitors set up booths Province Government
19:00 – 21:30 Welcome Dinner Venue:
Hosted by Governor of the Central Java Tentative Province, Drs H.Ali Mufiz,MPA

Day 2: 2 December 2007 ECOTOURISM FORUM
VENUE: Gallery Hotel Kresna Ballroom
Morning Session: Ecotourism Forum

07:00 – 09:00 Final Registration Venue:
Pringgodani Ballroom Foyer
09:00 Opening Ceremony
09:00 – 09:10 Report Speech by International Promotion
Director, Department of Culture and Tourism,
Tatang Rukhiyat
09:10 – 09:20 Welcome Speech by Head Of Wonosobo Regency, HA Kholiq Arif
09:20 – 09:35 Opening Speech by Director General of Marketing, Department of Culture and Tourism,
Thamrin B. Bachri
09:35 – 10:00 Keynote Speaker:
Joop Ave, Former Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication of The Republic Of Indonesia. (confirmed)
10:00 – 10:30 Coffee Break (Held in Exhibition area) . Venue:
Pringgodani Ballroom Foyer
11.00 – 13.00 PANEL PRESENTATION 1 :
Theme planning: Managing and Marketing ecotourism
Moderator : Prof.Dr.Wiendu Nuryanti, M.Arch
Executive Diretor, Yogyakarta Tourism Development
Board Indonesia
11:00 – 11:15 Speaker 1: Mr Jose Ma Lorenzo (Lory) Tan
Vice-Chairman, World Wide Fund (WWF) Philippines
“Planning Ecotoursm” (tba)
11:15 – 11:30 Speaker 2 : Ari Suhandi
Director INDECON (Indonesia)
“Managing Ecotourism in Indonesia” :
Opportunity & Challenge (tba)
11:30 – 12:45 Speaker 3: I.B Ngurah Wijaya
Head Of Bali Tourism (Indonesia)
Marketing Ecotourism (tba)
11:45 – 12:00 Speaker 4: Dwi Windari Widyastuti
Director of Tlogo Plantation (Indonesia)
“Planning, Managing, Marketing Ecotourism:
Tlogo Plantation Cases (tba)
12:00 – 13:00 Question and Answer/ Discussion Moderator
12:30 – 12:40 Conclusion and Recommendations Conclusion Team
12:40 – 12:50 Conference Closing Session by Head Of Banjarnegara Regency,
Drs. H.Djasri, MM
12:50 – 14:00 Lunch Break
Certificate Distribution at Committee Desk Venue :
Maespati Restaurant

AFTERNOON SESSION: ECOTOURISM MART
13:30 – 14:00 Buyers & Sellers briefing in Exhibition area – Venue :
Compulsory session Kendalisdo Room
14:00 – 16:30 TABLE TOP:SELLERS MEET BUYERS Venue
Exhibition area only for Buyers & Sellers Ballroom Free Function
Coffee available in the exhibition room

Evening : Free program to explore Wonosobo

EXHIBITION OPEN FOR PUBLIC: 10 am – 17 pm
10:00 – 17:00 Exhibition Open for Public Venue :
Pringgodani Ballroom Foyer

DAY 3: Monday, 3 December 2007 BUSINESS SESSION & DEPARTURE
VENUE : Kresna Hotel

EXHIBTION OPEN FOR PUBLIC: 10:00 am – 17:00 pm Committe

08:00 – 10:00 Follow up Business Session Venue :
(buyers and sellers only) Pringgodani Ballroom Foyer
(Individual optional basis)
10:00 – 17:00 Exhibition Open for Public
All Day Hotel Check Out by 12:00 noon
Departure of Delegates

Contact :
Ecotourbiz - International Ecotourism Business Forum
Jl. Lingkar Utara 234
Yogyakarta - Indonesia 55281
Phone: (62 274) 520 907
Fax: (62 274) 583 783
e-mail: ecotourbiz@gmail.com

Smile, it's Visit Indonesia Year

In addition to the government's efforts to improve safety and infrastructure, ordinary Indonesians can also contribute to the success of Visit Indonesia Year 2008 by doing what they do best -- smiling and being friendly, according to a minister.

Gearing up for the next year's big challenge, the government, as well as improving key infrastructure -- such as road and telecommunications networks -- will also launch a promotional campaign to raise public awareness of the event.

And, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, the success of the program will hinge on the friendliness of ordinary Indonesians.

"Our people must be friendly, show smiling faces, and all concerned must cater to foreign tourists in a friendly way so as to help the country promote its tourism industry next year," Jero said Wednesday.

With the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 campaign, which will be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Jan. 1, the country hopes to attract seven million foreign tourists and earn US$6.4 billion in foreign exchange.

The number of tourist arrivals is expected to increase to six million this year from 4.8 million in 2006.

Tofu cafe reinvents old favorites

Tofu or soybean cake -- which is gaining popularity in Western culture -- has long been a menu mainstay in Bali.

Kafe Tahu, which is located on Jl. Raya Denpasar in Bedugul, Baturiti, Tabanan, offers a wide variety of tofu dishes. Its owners, Zakaria and Elizabeth, have created a menu that features a wide array of tofu concoctions.

Soft tofu dishes -- ranging from soups to puddings -- are priced at Rp 5,000 (55 US cents) a portion. Tahu petis (sweet tofu) tahu martabak (tofu pancake) and tahu rujak mie (tofu and noodle salad) make very tasty snacks that are a lot more interesting than peanuts or crisps. Their prices range from Rp 5,000-8,500 a portion.

If a customer wants a solid meal they can choose from tahu gimbal (fried tofu cake), bakso kuah (tofu balls in soup), tahu telur (tofu and egg pancake) or tahu gejrot (chunks of tofu in a spicy sauce).

Zakaria said he had not realized his business would grow so fast. He had only really started the cafe with the intention of teaching people to cook tofu. An old caravan was later converted into a shop, with six tables placed outside.

"We never imagined such a thing, but people raved about our cooking. My wife and I have no training as cooks," he said.

Zakaria and Elizabeth spend much of their time on the road in search of new tofu recipes. They have visited West Java for its tahu gejrot, Central Java for its tahu gimbal and East Java for its tahu campur (mixed tofu) and tahu telur.

Also influenced by the cuisines of Japan and China, they might try a recipe 10 times before considering it "mastered".

At present there are 45 items on the Kafe Tahu menu, with two or three additions every month. Zakaria and Elizabeth are also expanding their business to Negara, Kuta and Denpasar under a franchising scheme.

Govt to present medals to foreign tourists frequenting RI

The Indonesian government will present medals to foreign tourists who have visited Indonesia at least 20 times, a minister said.

"We hope that by presenting the medals, we will encourage more foreign tourists to come to Indonesia," Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said here on Wednesday.

The medal presentation program for tourists was currently being processed and expected to be implemented in the very near future, the minister said.

According to the minister, Bali`s tourism office had data on the visits of foreign tourists, especially those from Australia who frequently came to Bali Island.

The minister was scheduled to launch a Tourism Awareness Campaign in Bandung, West Java, on November 25, 2007, as part of events to be organized prior to the launching of the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program.

The campaign would also feature an art and culture parade by 17 art teams from all over Indonesia.

Indonesia is planning to launch a Visit Indonesia Year 2008 and expecting to attract seven million tourists, an increase from the 2007 target of six million.

For domestic tourists, Indonesia has set itself the targets of 118 million in 2008 and 117 million in 2007.

East Nusa Tenggara wins national tourism contest

East Nusa Tenggara emerged as the first winner of the 2nd Indonesian tourism contest 2007 held at the Ksirarnawa Cultural Park in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday.

East Nusa Tenggara was represented by Heidris Donaldo Kiha and Magdalena Louisa Manongga who managed to eliminate 24 other participants in the contest.

General chairman of the foundation of the Indonesian tourism envoy association (ADWINDO) Dr Gusti Ngurah Arya Wedakarna said the activity was a forum to unite all tourism envoys in Indonesia at national events as they had yet to share the same vision.

“We observe that tourism envoys at district, city or provincial levels have different visions and missions on Indonesia`s tourism,” Wedakarna said.

He further said tourism envoys in the country were often not in synergy to promote Indonesia but tended to give priority to exposing their respective areas.

Wedakarna said the 3rd Indonesia tourism contest 2008 was expected to take lace in Bangka Belitung province.

“Next year, Bangka Belitung province will host the Indonesian tourism contest at national level. Thus, we hope the province would make preparations for the upcoming event from now on,” he said.

On the 2007 national tourism contest, East Java and Central Java came up as the second and third winners respectively.

The event also declared representatives from Nangroe Aceh Darussalam as intelligence tourism envoys 2007, representatives from Papua as peace tourism envoys and those from Bangka Belitung as friendship tourism envoys. (*)

Source: ANTARA News

De-stress on the ultimate Balinese Spa holiday for 18 to 35s

With the end of the year fast approaching now is the perfect time for a little R&R.

For a stylish and luxurious holiday without the price tag get your buddies together to experience the best value spa holiday around at Contiki's funky four-star resort located in trendy Seminyak, Bali.

Imagine sipping divine cocktails in a swim-up bar, doing yoga on the beach as the sun rises and rejuvenating your body, mind and spirit in a chic spa where treatments start from around $25 for an hour massage and $40 for a two-hour full body treatment.

The Spa @ Contiki is the place to revitalise your body, mind and spirit - it has seven treatment rooms and offers a complete range of spa and beauty treatments, both for individuals and couples. Plus, it has a range of new treatments on offer including the Spirit of Bali, with a Balinese spice scrub, massage and flower bath.

Here is just a taste of some of the other treatments available:Exotic Balinese Boreh Ritual – an authentic Balinese treat.

More...

Jakarta welcomes Korean Festival

Thunderous applause rained down as four Koreans performed the traditional Pung-mul-no-ri dance and brought harmony to the stage.

Sin Myung, a folk percussion group from Korea, opened the Korean Festival with color, allowing people a glimpse of Korean culture in Artha Gading Mall, North Jakarta, on Saturday.

According to Daniel Sekeon from PT Kage Dwijaya, which organized the event, folk dance and music groups like Sin Myung can perform for days without getting tired.

On every weekend from Nov. 17 to Dec. 9, visitors will get the chance to taste Korean foods and learn how to cook Korean cuisine. Top Indonesian chief Rudi Choirudin will also share his expertise on Nov. 25.

One of the visitors, Nur from Bogor, said she was interested in buying Korean food products because she wanted to try cooking a Korean menu.