VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, Russia supported by   the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will represent the Indonesian government at Russia's largest tourism forum, namely the 30th International Travel and Hospitality Show (MITT) to take place in Moscow on 19th- 21st March 2024. Aside from encouraging the growth of domestic tourism, MITT is also a platform for foreign countries, including Indonesia to introduce tourism products and the hospitality industry to the Russian market.

Russia has enormous tourism potential for Indonesia. In 2023, Russian tourists traveling abroad were estimated to reach 15 percent year on year or the equivalent of 25.8 million trips. Meanwhile, according to data from the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics,   Russian tourists visiting Indonesia were recorded at more than 161 thousand people or the statistic increased of more than 117 percent from the previous year.

Moreover, Russia is one of two European countries that has exceeded the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia before the Covid-19 pandemic. Russia is also the fifth largest contributor of foreign tourists from the group of European countries to Indonesia. By 2024, apart from Bali, the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow along with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will also focus on promoting super priority tourism destinations, namely Borobudur Temple, Labuan Bajo, Lake Toba, Mandalika and Likupang. Indonesia's participation in this forum is expected to encourage an increase in tourists from Russia to travel to Indonesia. Indonesia is still one of the favorite destinations for Russians in Southeast Asia.   2024 coincides with the 30th anniversary of the tourism exhibition being held. The 2024 event is expected to be participated by 768 exhibitors, more than 14 thousand registered visitors and will be attended by 170 speakers, experts and business actors in the tourism and hospitality industry.

to break the fast, we need a sweet, delicious and refreshing food or drink after fasting for approximately 12 hours. Usually, the favourite of Mandailing tribes during the month of Ramadan is Toge Panyabungan, which is one of the iftar menus that tastes sweet and refreshing. If you hear the name, Toge Panyabungan, people will think that this is the name of a type of vegetable, but it turns out that this is the name of a typical snack from Panyabungan City, Mandailing Natal district, North Sumatra.

Toge Panyabungan has been famous in Mandailing Natal since the 1940s, and since 2017. It has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of North Sumatra. In its place of origin in Mandailing Natal, Toge Panyabungan is served with shaved ice cubes, while in Medan, one of the fast-breaking menus is served warm. To make it even more savoury, before serving, the Toge Penyabungan is first doused with coconut milk and palm sugar water.

In its presentation, Toge Panyabungan looks like iced cendol or es campur. What distinguishes it is the type of mixture contained in it. Because the Toge Panyabungan consists of coconut milk, liquid brown sugar, and cendol, red sticky rice, ordinary sticky rice, tape, candil, and lupis. Toge Panyabungan must use real palm sugar, and the coconut milk must also be thick, and the lupis pulut must also be of high quality so that the taste is perfect. Most Toge Panyabungan vendors still maintain the traditional processing of raw ingredients by cooking it using a wood-burning stove. Then, the combination of white pulut, black sticky rice, candil spheres and cendol is cooked with coconut milk and palm sugar. One bowl of Toge Panyabungan is usually sold from Rp5,000 to Rp10,000.

Being an alumnus of a university abroad is certainly an honor. However, making a real contribution to Indonesia is more important and priding. Based on this understanding, the British Council is holding the Study UK Alumni Awards again. At the Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday (7/3/2024), the biennial awards event was held as a recognition of Indonesian student alumni in the UK who have had a positive impact on Indonesia. The Study UK Alumni Awards have 4 winners from 4 categories, namely Science & Sustainability, Culture & Creativity, Social Action as well as Business & Innovation

The winners and finalists of the Study UK Alumni Awards went through a quite long selection stage. The British Council opened this competition to the public. So, all Study UK alumni can register. Then, every alumnus who registers will be selected by the British Council and then evaluated in stages. The following are the names of the winners of the 2024 Study UK Alumni Awards: the Science & Sustainability Category was won by Wulan Koagouw, the Culture & Creativity Category was won by Denny Rasyid Priyatna, the Social Action Category was won by Tara Subba, and the Business & Innovation Category was won by Redita Aliyah Utomo. The British Council gave appreciation in the form of cash of GBP 2,000 (around Rp. 40 million) to each winner. The prize is awarded to support their professional development through courses, conferences and exhibitions.

The 2024 Study UK Alumni Award aims to continue to strengthen the interest of students from Indonesia to study in the UK. In addition, this event also marks the 75th anniversary of UK-Indonesia diplomatic relations, and it is a form of ongoing commitment supported by the UK government's seriousness in providing a platform that can introduce UK university alumni from Indonesia to the international stage.

           
On February 26, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno launched IndoFringe@Sekolah. IndoFringe@Sekolah is a creative economy movement in building and running inclusive and sustainable creative economy programs.

At the launch, Sandiaga Uno said that Indofringe@Sekolah is a forum for introducing and broadening the horizons of the younger generation about the creative economy. Especially regarding the implementation of festivals as a showcase for various sub-sectors of the creative economy.

Sandi Uno also supports IndoFringe@Sekolah, whose coverage will be expanded this year. IndoFringe@Skolah 2024 will be held in 20 cities in Indonesia with a target of 20-25 schools involved in each city.

In the IndoFringe@Sekolah program, the team from Indofringe provides educational programs for students and teachers regarding the creation and implementation of events using three learning methods. Namely project-based learning, collaborative lessons, and experience-based lessons provided by mentors from Indofringe.

The learning process for each school lasts for 12 weeks involving 10 selected students and 1 teacher. The material provided is related to festival planning, sponsorship, production and design, talent curation, promotion, as well as awards and certification.

After that, each school will hold a festival as a form of final learning and competition from all participating schools in IndoFringe@Sekolah.

In 2023 IndoFringe@Sekolah will be successfully implemented in 218 schools by presenting 396 performances, 1,327 talents, 11,553 visitors by presenting various creative works in the festival, starting from modern dance, traditional dance, band/music, solo vocal, painting, and theater.