Jahar (seated centre) and Edi (seated second right) in a group photo with the festival’s committee members after the press conference.
KUCHING: The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism will be holding the Wonderful Indonesia Festival from June 3 to 4, in an effort to achieve its target of 12 million tourists’ arrival globally, including those from Malaysia and specifically Sarawak.
Indonesian Consul General for Sarawak Jahar Gultom said the two-day festival would be organised in conjunction with ‘Pekan Gawai Naik Dango’ from June 1 to 4, which would introduce Indonesian culture in the hope that its potential would be recognised at the international level.
The event, to be held in Sambas, West Kalimantan, is part of the Indonesian government’s efforts through its Ministry of Tourism to present the rich cultural arts of the country to attract more tourists to Indonesia.
“Sambas has the potential become the ‘gateway’ to attract Sarawakian tourists as well as those from other states in Malaysia to come and enjoy the various activities that are held there.
“This is also part of our government’s efforts to balance the number of tourists’ arrivals to our country where in 2015, the number of Sarawakian tourists was only 22,000 compared to Indonesian tourists’ arrivals to Sarawak, which was around 400,000.
“With this festival, we hope that the number of tourists’ arrivals from these two countries could be balanced out,” he said, adding that around 300 Malaysians are expected to visit the festival.
Speaking at a press conference held at a hotel here yesterday, Jahar said visitors visiting Sambas for the Wonderful Indonesia Festival 2016 would have the opportunity to witness arts and cultural performances by local Indonesian artistes, traditional Dayak arts, food and a bazaar as well as blowpipe and top-spinning (gasing) competitions.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Tourism Ministry deputy marketing assistant Edi Susilo said to ease the arrival of Sarawakians to Sambas, the Indonesian government would give permits for Sarawakians to drive their own vehicles to the festival – on condition that they would obtain their permits at the Indonesian border.
“At the border, Sarawakians can enter Indonesia in their own vehicles by obtaining a car sticker. But they are only allowed to be in Sambas starting from June 2 to June 5 (before 5pm).
“If the Malaysian vehicle extends its pass in Sambas, we will not be responsible for any problem that arises,” he said. In addition, festival organisers would also provide shuttle bus service from the border to Sambas for those who wish to leave their vehicles at the border.
For further information regarding this shuttle bus service, call Konsela London at 014-8761959 or Kampung Biawak, Sijok village chief at 013-5064456.