Fund to Promote Jakarta in Foreign Country will Be Abolished

Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ T Purnama prohibits the officials in regional work units (SKPD) to promote Jakarta by traveling to foreign countries. This is because many SKPDs drafted work programs to hold activities in foreign countries to promote Jakarta only as an excuse to travel abroad.

There will be no more SKPD going abroad, likewise with UMKM. That is just wasteful promotion

“There will be no more SKPD going abroad, likewise with UMKM. That is just wasteful promotion,” he asserted, Monday (11/10).

According to Ahok, promoting Jakarta nowadays is better done via internet, including by utilizing social networking. But first, Jakarta Provincial Government must improve the infrastructures for better promotion.

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“Time has changed. In the past, if you wanted Taiwanese to visit Jakarta, we would send a team and make an event there. But now, if the youngsters wanted to travel, they just go straight to Google and search for hotels and recreational sites,” he uttered.

Moreover, Ahok assessed that internet utilization in tourism promotion will be much more effective because current condition is already very different than the past.

“How? By developing good comparative advantages, instead of spending money for useless promotion that did not give impact to many people. We have to change that kind of models,” he stressed.

Hence, through the implementation of e-budgeting system, Ahok stated that he will cross out the fund for going abroad to promote Jakarta.

“I’ve asked the Finance Management Board (BPKD) as the leader of the budget team, Development Planning Board (Bappeda), and City Secretary. I have instructed them to pay attention on this matter and just lock it,” he said.