Yogyakarta Special Region is designated as an ASEAN Cultural City. The determination was made on Wednesday, October 24 at Prambanan Temple Open Theater, Yogyakarta. This determination is in line with Yogyakarta as the venue for the ministerial meeting in the 8th ASEAN cultural field and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting in the 14th ASEAN Culture field. This biennial meeting is held on 21 to 26 October 2018. The establishment of the ASEAN Cultural City is a joint program of the Ministry of Culture of ASEAN countries and the determination of the city changes every two years. Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Hilmar Farid at the Press Conference on Wednesday (October 24) said that Yogyakarta is the cultural city of ASEAN in 2018/2020 and Yogyakarta was chosen because it has prioritized culture of prevention.
“Yogyakarta, in a meeting with the governor, the activities must involve culture of prevention; this must be developed. And for this matter, Yogya has already advanced. Culture of prevention is how to prevent bad things from happening such as natural disasters. Later, activities to be prioritized are to strengthen the culture of prevention,” said Hilmar Farid.
Hilmar Farid further explained that before Yogyakarta, the city of ASEAN culture was Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Yogyakarta is the fifth city chosen as the City of Culture. At the meeting, the delegates welcomed the determination. To mark this designation, Yogyakarta organized the ASEAN art festival on Wednesday (October 24, 2018) which featured artists from ASEAN countries and 3 of its dialogue partners. This festival is an example of how ASEAN celebrates cultural diversity, uses culture to advance traditions and heritage, and fosters long-standing friendships between ASEAN countries and their dialogue partners. (VOI/Skr/DP)
Ministry of Tourism prepares fund worth Rp 100 billion every month for Bali's normalization process post-eruption of Mt. Agung some time ago. While Rp20 billion is oriented to Lombok for rehabilitation and trauma healing. Met after the program "Tourism-Friendly Journalism Movement" in Jakarta, Wednesday (October 24, 2018), Minister of Tourism, Arif Yahya said that Bali has entered the normalization stage; this could be seen from an international event that had been held recently in Bali.
“If Bali is normal; the easiest example of normalization of international events is that on12 to 14 of October, we already had an international event, IMF-World Bank Annual meeting. If the international event has taken place, that is the most visible sign of normalization. Lombok is now in the rehabilitation phase. Bali took time for 6 months. Lombok, I expect, is 3 months. Why it is 3 months, because Bali got 3 months, the industry was not strong enough to be normal back. Salaries had to be spent and so did all utilities; the water, and electricity still had to be used. Based on that experience, I asked for help from all related ministries, institutions, and industries to do rehabilitation,” said Arif Yahya.
Minister Arif Yahya further stated that the fund used was taken from the 2018 State Budget (APBN) and the 2019 State Budget draft. He also explained that he did not want to take risk to guarantee Rp30 billion for the Bali normalization process and the rehabilitation of Lombok. (VOI/NK/DP)
The Indonesian government initiates the formation of new economic centers in the world. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi explained in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/10) that the spread of the new economic growth centers in the world would later encourage economic equality and at the same time improve world welfare. In regard to this, she views that the Indonesian government is promoting good communication between countries in the Pacific region and countries in the Indian Ocean coastal region. Minister Retno also remarked that good relations between the Pacific States and the Indian Ocean Coast would improve not only world welfare, but also encourage the creation of inter-regional peace.
"By connecting between the Pacific and Indian Ocean, what we hope is that there will be new growth centers in the Indian Ocean Rim. Because if there is a spread of new economic growth centers, this means that there will be an increase in terms of welfare; this will definitely be related to peace issues, etc," RetnoMarsudi said.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi further stated that in this regard, the Indonesian government is currently engaged in intensive communication, not only with the Pacific States and the Indian Ocean Coast, but also with partner countries such as the United States, China, Russia, India, Australia and Korea. In addition, she said that Indonesia also build communication with ASEAN countries in a bid to develop the concept. She emphasized that international cooperation is something that must be built compared to building competition among countries. (VOI/Ndy/DP)
Indonesian Tourism Ministry has prepared 100 billion rupiah a month for Bali normalization process after Mount Agung eruption two months ago. Meanwhile another 20 billion rupiah funds will also be disbursed for rehabilitation process and trauma healing in Lombok. Speaking to reporters after the “Tourism Friendly Journalism Movement” at Hotel Sari Pacific, Jakarta on Wednesday October 24th 2018, Indonesian Tourism Minister, Arif Yahya said that Bali has entered normalisation, seen from the international events that have successfully held in Bali recently.
“Well, Bali has entered normalization phase. The easiest example of normalization is an international event held on 12th to 14th October. We have had an international event, the annual meeting of IMF-World Bank. Once it happened that is the sign of normalization. Lombok is still in rehabilitation process. If Bali has six months to recover, I hope we can do it in three months with Lombok. Why three months, because Bali cannot resist the industry in three months. Payments have to be paid, et cetera. All utility water, electricity has to be used. Based on that experience I ask all governments, stakeholders and industries to do the rehabilitation, reconstruction in three months in Lombok. Palu is not included in the main tourism destination and all activities is standard because there are not many tourists like in Bali and Lombok. So Lombok needs more Trauma healing than Bali. For Lombok we provide 20 billion rupiah for Trauma Healing,” said Arif Yahya.
Arif Yahya added that the funds are taken from 2018 State Budget and 2019 State Budget. Arif Yahya explained that he did not want to take a risk so he secured 30 billion rupiah for Bali normalization and Lombok rehabilitation. (VOI/NK/AHM)