2018 ASIAN GAMES EXPECTED TO HAVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Dec 27 , 2017 (Antara)  - Jakarta and the South Sumatran provincial capital of Palembang will co-host the 18th Asian Games from August 18 to September 2, 2018.
        Some 9.5 thousand athletes, 2.5 thousand personnel of the Asian Olympic Council, and 5.5 thousand technical delegates from 45 Asian countries will participate, or be involved in the event. At least 3.5 thousand media representatives are expected to cover the games.
           This is the second time that Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games, the first one was held in Jakarta in 1962.
         For South Sumatra, the largest regional sports event in Asia is expected to provide long-term benefits for the province's economy.
        In accordance, the South Sumatran administration has prepared several plans to boost the province's economy after the Games.
         Hosting the Asian Games 2018 will help improve the local economy in the long-term, Yohanes Toruan, assistant-in-charge of economic affairs in the South Sumatra administration, stated on December 21.
         "Currently, South Sumatra is focusing on preparations for the Asian Games. But, on the other hand, we must also think of what we should do to keep the economy growing even after the Asian Games," he remarked.
            South Sumatra became internationally known after successfully hosting the South East Asian (SEA) Games in 2011, he stated.

LRT TRAIN EXPECTED TO SUPPORT TOURISM INDUSTRY IN PALEMBANG by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 2, 2017 (Antara) - Palembang is gearing up to implement the Asian Games 2018, and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) train network is expected to become operational before the games to be co-hosted by Palembang and Jakarta.  
   Construction of the LRT project is expected to be completed in October this year. State-run construction company Waskita Karya has been entrusted by the Transportation Ministry to develop the LRT system in Palembang. Waskita was appointed through a presidential regulation signed in late October 2015.

         The project is worth Rp10 trillion. Length of the Palembang LRT line is 23.5 kilometers, which includes 13 stations. Travel time will be shortened by 50 percent. The normal travel speed is 90 minutes. However, by using the LRT, the travel time will be only 45 minutes.

        Palembang was chosen as the pioneer project due to its potential, which was realized by the investors.

        Now the process of installing the elevated rail track has already reached 2.5 kilometers, and the work should be completed soon, South Sumatra's provincial administration secretary Nasrun Umar stated recently.

        The LRT project is being built ahead of the Asian Games in 2018 to cope with the congestion and traffic jams, especially during peak hours in the city.

        The LRT will facilitate the transport of thousands of athletes from all over Asia to take part in the largest sporting event in the continent.

         The use of LRT during the 18th Asian Games, however, is just a short-term target, and for the long term, LRT is expected to help support the tourism industry in the capital city of South Sumatra Province.

        South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin recently expressed hope that the LRT network, currently being built in Palembang, will enable tourists to enjoy the various attractions in Palembang.

CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF PALEMBANG LRT TRAIN ON TRACK by Fardah

Jakarta, July 18, 2017 (Antara) -  The 18th Asian Games, a regional sporting event for Asian nations, will be co-hosted by Palembang and Jakarta simultaneously from August 18 to September 2, 2018.

         Thousands of athletes from 54 countries are expected to participate in the games.

         This will be the second time that Indonesia will host the Asian Games, with the first one being held in Jakarta in 1962, under President Soekarno.

         The South Sumatra provincial administration, in general, and the Palembang municipal government, in particular, are determined to use the event to promote its tourism attractions in order to attract as many tourists as possible.

         To this end, they have been busy improving and renovating several tourist attractions in the city and developing infrastructure and facilities to support the tourism industry.
    Among infrastructure being developed in the capital of South Sumatra  is a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. The vital LRT is expected to help reduce traffic in Palembang particularly during the implementation of the upcoming Asian Games.

         The 25 km long LRT track will stretch from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport to Jakabaring Sport City.

         The construction work has, so far, been on track, and proceeded smoothly without serious problems.

         The Rp10 trillion (US$751.9 billion) Asian Games 2018 project has earmarked Rp2 trillion (US$15.04) for LRT project development.

PALEMBANG BEAUTIFIES TOURIST ATTRACTIONS TO WELCOME ASIAN GAMES 2018 by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 29 (Antara)- Palembang City, the capital of South Sumatra Province, is busy beautifying its tourist attractions.

         The city is gearing up for the 18th Asian Games, a regional sporting event for Asian nations, to be co-hosted by Palembang and Jakarta in 2018.

         Thousands of athletes from 54 countries are expected to participate in the games.

         The South Sumatra provincial administration in general, and the Palembang municipality government in particular, are determined to use the event to promote its tourism attractions in order to attract as many tourists as possible.

         For that purpose, they have been busy improving and renovating several tourist attractions in the city, and developing infrastructure and facilities to support the tourism industry. Among tourist objects being renovated are Kuto Besak Fortress, Ampera Bridge and Kemaro Island.

         An investor has expressed interest in investing in the tourism industry in Palembang.

         The businessman intends to invest Rp70 billion particularly to beautify the Kemaro Isle tourist site, one of the icons of Palembang, Isnaini Madani, head of the Palembang Tourism Office, said. He did not reveal the identity of the investor.

         Kemaro Isle is a small delta, nearly six kilometers from Ampera Bridge, in the middle of the Musi River.

         A Chinese temple was built on the isle in honor of a legendary love story between a Chinese prince, Tan Bun Ann, and a princess of Palembang, Siti Fatimah.

TRANSFORMING MUSI RIVER INTO GLOBAL TOURIST ATTRACTION by Fardah

Jakarta, June 13, 2016 (Antara)- Musi River is not solely the longest river in Sumatra stretching over 750 kilometers but is also the lifeline and heartbeat of Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province.

         People belonging to several races and ethnicities, such as Malay, Javanese, Chinese, Arab, and Indian descends, live along and around the river, which divides Palembang into northern and southern parts.

         Their traditions and arts have enriched the culture of Palembang, which is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and in the past, was the capital of the powerful Sriwijaya Kingdom during the period between 670 and 1375.

        The northern and southern parts of the city are connected by the Ampera Bridge, which has become the most popular icon of Palembang.

        Given the huge potential of Musi River, the city is currently mulling over a greater icon than just the Ampera Bridge, which was constructed in April 1962 and stretches 1,177 meters in length and 22 meters in width.

         The administration of Palembang plans to develop the Musi River tourism on the similar lines as Thailand's Chao Phraya River, or even transforming it into "the Venice of Indonesia."
    Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has lauded the city's plan to increase the number of tourist visits.

AL-MUNAWAR KAMPONG GEARING UP FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOUR by Fardah

Palembang, S Sumatra, Feb 24 , 2016 (Antara) - Palembang is expected to emerge as one of the favorite cities catering to tourists and scientists wanting to watch the total solar eclipse scheduled to occur on March 9 this year.          The city administration has been gearing up to facilitate the visitors in witnessing the very rare and spectacular phenomenon as well to explore various interesting tourism sites in the capital of South Sumatra Province.          Palembang is a multi-ethnic city where Malays, Javanese and those of Chinese and Arab descent have been living harmoniously and peacefully for hundreds of years.          It has the potential to develop religious, culinary, shopping and historical tourism attractions.          The city's icon, Ampera Bridge, will remain closed for public vehicles on the day of the eclipse, facilitating the pedestrians to observe the eclipse from the vantage point on the bridge freely and clearly.      Not far from the bridge, there is the little-known Al-Munawar kampong, an old Arab quarter which has a vibrant Islamic environment and a distinctive culture.

PALEMBANG ENTHUSIASTIC TO WELCOME TOURISTS DURING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 15 , 2016 (Antara) - The South Sumatra administration has formulated plans to organize various attractive activities coinciding with the total solar eclipse (TSE) expected to occur on the morning of March 9, 2016.   
   The province will organize among other things a glowing night run, a supernatural community ritual, cultural performances, an international photography festival, a 30-meter-long barongsai show and an educational tour for students, organized jointly with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).

        The head of the South Sumatra Tourism and Cultural Office, Irene Camelyn Sinaga, has said the tourism office will also facilitate guests and take them to certain locations specially designated to watch the total solar eclipse.

        The city's icon, Ampera Bridge, will remain closed for public vehicles on the day of the eclipse, facilitating the pedestrians to observe the total solar eclipse from the vantage point on the bridge freely and clearly.  

TOURISM SET AS PRIORITY FOR SOUTH SUMATRA'S DEVELOPMENT by Fardah

  Palembang, S Sumatra, July 30, 2015 (Antara)- South Sumatra Province has several tourism attractions that have the potential to further develop its economy.

        Some three million tourists visited South Sumatra last year, and the province has set a target to attract five million tourists this year.
   The province is intensifying efforts to develop its tourism industry in a bid to boost its economy and improve the public's welfare.

        Tourism just needs better management and will not deplete like natural resources, Irene Camelyn Sinaga, the acting head of the South Sumatra provincial cultural and tourism office, stated in Palembang, on July 29, 2015.

         The South Sumatra administration is optimistic that the province's beautiful natural panorama, abundant cultural attractions and historical remains can lure many domestic as well as foreign tourists.

PALEMBANG DEVELOPS MUSI RIVER TOURISM TO ATTRACT FOREIGN TOURISTS by Fardah

Jakarta, June 29, 2015 (Antara)- The Ampera Bridge has become the most famous icon of Palembang, which is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia and in the past was the capital of the powerful Sriwijaya Kingdom between 670 and 1375.

         Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra Province, however, is currently mulling over a greater icon than just the Ampera Bridge, which was constructed in April 1962 and stretches 1,177 meters in length and 22 meters in width.

         The administration of Palembang is set to develop the Musi River tourism on the similar lines as Thailand's Chao Phraya River, or even transforming it into "the Venice of Indonesia."