Jakarta Sets a 2.3 Million Target for Foreign Visitors in 2013

The Jakarta administration hope to attract 2.3 million foreign tourists to the capital this year, the head of the city’s tourism agency said on Tuesday. 

Last year, more than 2.1 million foreign tourists flocked to the Big Durian, with 63 percent of visitors traveling to Jakarta for business. 

While Arie Budhiman, the head of Jakarta’s tourism agency, said he was optimistic about reaching the 2013 tourism target, he said the city lacked the budget to promote tourism. Last year’s budget was only Rp 12 million ($1232). 

“Promotion is important. The governor agrees that Jakarta needs more promotion. We still focus on [the] East Asia market,” Arie said as quoted by beritajakarta.com.

The East Asian countries targeted are Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Middle Eastern countries.

The tourism head added that international musicians were also keen to tour Jakarta, citing the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival as an example, which ranks among the biggest jazz festivals in the world. 

Arie said that the local government would participate in tourism exhibitions around the world and would offer promotional packages to travel agents, although he did not elaborate further on what kind of promotions were on offer.

Travel website TripAdvisor on Tuesday announced the winners of the 2012 Travelers’ Choice for destinations. Jakarta topped the list for Asia, ahead of Kathmandu, Kolkata and Manila. (Jakarta Globe)