RENOVATION WORKS OF BUNG KARNO STADIUM NEARLY COMPLETE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 30, 2017 (Antara) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was very pleased and satisfied with the renovation works of Indonesia's largest sports stadium, Bung Karno Stadium, as the works have reached over 90 percent completion.      
   The Bung Karno Stadium, which is located in Senayang, South Jakarta, will be the heart of the implementation of the Asian Games 2018 activities.

        She expressed her relief while inspecting the stadium, which will be the venue of the 18th Asian Games, along with Palembang, the South Sumatran provincial capital.

         The minister admitted that she had been worried about the renovation works, but expressed her satisfaction after witnessing the significant progress of the renovation directly.

          "I have heard that there will be a jogging track on the upper floor of this stadium. It had never existed before. Moreover, the greenery area, which is currently being revitalized, will function as 'the lung of the capital city.' We are certainly pleased," Indrawati remarked, while visiting the stadium, along with Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, on Nov 23.

         In addition to visiting the main stadium, she also inspected the aquatic stadium and the Istora (literally means sports palace), which are located inside the Bung Karno Stadium complex, along with Erick Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC),.
     The complex has been temporary closed to the public, as massive renovation works have been underway.

         Hadimuljono is optimistic that the renovation works would be completed before Dec 31, 2017.

         "All projects will be completed by Dec 31, except for a parking area and an urban park located in the former driving range golf area," the minister explained.    
    The Asian Games 2018, Asia's biggest sporting event, will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 12, 2018.

BALI OFFERS BETTER SERVICES TO "STRANDED" TOURISTS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 30 , 2017 (Antara) - The I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport reopened on Nov 29 at 3 p.m. local time following a temporary shutdown since Nov 27 morning, as its airspace is currently free of ash from Mount Agung.

         Volcanic ash has drifted in the southeast direction from its earlier southwest movement toward the airport. Thus, activities have returned to normal at the airport. In addition, the Volcano Observation Notice for Aviation has downgraded its color code from red to orange.

         However, the aviation authorities have urged all airlines to remain vigilant and conduct flight operations in accordance with the standard operating procedures.

        Owing to the three-day closure of Bali airport on Nov 27-29, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has urged all stakeholders in the tourism industry in Bali to provide support, better services, and facilities to tourists compelled to prolong their stay on the island following the eruptions of Mount Agung.

         He also called on all parties to understand the situation that had led to the previous closure of Ngurah Rai international airport.

         "We must show empathy towards those affected. Imagine if it were to happen to us or our families. It would be highly commended if hotels, the industry, and the government are able to sincerely help them," he remarked.

         The minister expressed hope that the visitors would also be impressed if Bali was able to provide better services during the disaster.

- MT AGUNG'S ERUPTIONS LEAD TO TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF BALI AIRPORT by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 27 , 2017 (Antara) - After rumbling since August 2017, the 3,142-meter-high Mount Agung has finally erupted, forcing a temporary closure of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport located on the world's most famous resort island of Bali.

         The Indonesian Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has raised the alert level of Mount Agung from three to four, indicating eruption hazards on and near the volcano.

         The alert level was raised, as the eruptions of Mount Agung have shifted from phreatic to magmatic since a red glow was visible from the peak of Mount Agung on Nov 26 at 9 p.m. local time, according to I Gede Suantika, the mitigation head of PVMBG.

         The magmatic eruptions produced thick ash rising to heights of between two thousand and 3,400 meters from the volcano's peak.

         Suantika has forecast that larger explosions might occur as is indicated by the continuous ash puffs that are sometimes accompanied by explosive eruptions along with a weak sound of boom audible in the radius of up to 12 kilometers from the mountain's peak.

         The danger zone has been expanded from six kilometers to eight kilometers from the volcano's peak.

         People living within a 10-kilometer radius towards the north, northeast, southeast, south, and southwest of the mount have been advised to evacuate.

         Villages located within the danger zone are Ban, Dukuh, Baturinggit, Sukadana, Kubu, Tulamben, Datah, Nawakerti, Pitpit, Bhuana Giri, Bebandem, Jungutan, North Duda, Amerta Bhuana, Sebudi, Besakih, and Pempatan.

         The danger zone can be changed at any time based on the condition of the volcano.

         No casualties have been reported so far, and 40 thousand people have left the area, though tens of thousands still need to move, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.    
   Volcanic ash dispersed into the air over the airport after the second eruption forced its closure for 24 hours from 7 a.m. local time on Nov 27.

SAIL SABANG TO BE LARGEST MARITIME TOURISM EVENT IN INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 25, 2017 (Antara) - Sail Sabang, the ninth edition of Sail Indonesia series, is the largest maritime tourism event to be ever held in this country, under the theme "Towards Sabang, Gateway of Global Maritime Tourism Destination."
     President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to inaugurate the event on Dec 2, 2017. The inauguration ceremony will be centered at three locations, notably Sabang Bay or CT3 BPKS seaport, Sabang Fair, and Indonesia's Zero Kilometer Monument.

         At least 30 activities will be organized during the event, with the aim of promoting the tourist destinations in Aceh, in particular, and Indonesia, in general.

          Some 20 thousand people, including the Deputy Mayor of Elverum, representing the Norwegian Government, and nearly three thousand other foreigners, are expected to attend the peak ceremony of the international maritime event to be held in Sabang, Weh Island, Aceh Province, from Nov 28 to Dec 5, 2017.     
    At least 22 foreign travel agents, along with 125 local and foreign buyers, have confirmed their participation, which will be highlighted by the Aceh Travel Mart, according to Reza Fahlevi, head of the Aceh tourism office.

          A total of 100 yachts from Asia, Europe, Australia, and America, and three tall ships, namely Bima Suci and Dewa Ruci Indonesian warships and MV Lili Marleen, along with the Baruna Jaya research ship and other warships, are expected to participate in the event.

         The transportation ministry will provide 20 shuttle buses, along with four speedboats and four ferries, to transport visitors from Ulee Lheu to Sabang.

           The Indonesian Navy will operate four ships and water taxis to serve the Malahayati-Balohan route from Dec 1 to 3, 2017.

EAST NUSA TENGGARA GEARS UP FOR SECOND TOUR DE TIMOR by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 25, 2017  (Antara) - The Indonesian government has organized international cycling events at national as well as regional levels, to enable the domestic and foreign participants to have a close encounter with the country's scenic beauty.

         Among the sport tourism events are Tour de Singkarak in West Sumatra, Tour de Central Celebes in Central Sulawesi; Tour de Lombok Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara; Tour de Flores and Tour de Timor in East Nusa Tenggara; Tour de Moluccas in Maluku; Tour de Indonesia, Tour de Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua, Tour de Ijen in Banyuwangi, East Java Province, and Tour de Barelang in Batam, the Riau Islands Province.

        East Nusa Tenggara is among the most ambitious one as it has two cycling and tourism events annually, namely Tour de Flores (TdF) on Flores Island and Tour de Timor (TdT) on western part of Timor Island. Both TdT and TdF follow the concept of Tour de Singkarak.

        Organized for the first time in 2009, the world-class Tour de Singkarak event takes renowned international cyclists on an exciting tour across the picturesque West Sumatra countryside's scenic landscapes, comprising of beaches, blue lakes, and numerous hairpin bends, as they climb up to the foot of the volcanoes.

        Since 2013, the Amauri Sport Organization (ASO) has recommended the TdS as a major cycling event in Asia, because it has managed to attract more than 1 million spectators.  
    After successfully organizing the first TdF last year, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) held the second TdF from July 14 to 19, 2017, by throwing more challenges, due to an increase in the number of regions covered during the tour. 
    While, the second TdT will be organized from Dec 9 to 12, 2017, according to Welly Rame Rohimone, an official of the East Nusa Tenggara tourism and creative economic office.  

INVESTORS INTERESTED TO DEVELOP LAKE TOBA by Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 22, 2017 - The North Sumatran provincial government has set an ambitious target of attracting at least one million foreign tourists to visit Lake Toba by 2019.

         The figure is nearly four folds higher that the number of tourists visiting Lake Toba in 2016, which was only 240 thousand. Until September this year, some 197 thousand tourists had visited the area.

         The target of tourist arrivals this year is set at 300 thousand, and next year it is 500 thousand.

         The target might be achievable, as Lake Toba is not just an ordinary water body but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.

          Lake Toba and Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of the huge lake, offer a complete tourism package encompassing beautiful scenery, unique Batak culture and traditions, and intriguing history.

         The ancient lake was formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years. The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.   
     When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 kilometers (km) in length and 30 km in width.

         The local government hopes that the Toba Caldera Geopark would be inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2017.

         Moreover, Lake Toba has been designated by the central government as a priority tourist destination, along with nine other tourist attractions, or popularly called as "10 New Bali."