Yogyakarta Tourism Agency head Aris Riyatna confirmed that no cancellations had been
made by travel agents catering to foreigners as of Friday afternoon.
"We have coordinated with travel agents and others to deliver correct information and
intensively communicate with foreign travel agents," said Aris.
He added that visitors to Yogyakarta were comprised primarily of men and women from the
Netherlands, Japan and Malaysia and that the number reached 281,000 in 2015, an increase
of 17 percent from last year.
"For domestic tourists, the number reached 3.4 million, a 21 percent increase from 2014,"
Aris said. (kes)(+)
Extra caution: Passengers gather in front of the domestic departure gate at Ngurah Rai
International Airport in Bali. A high alert status was issued on Friday at the airport following
terrorist attacks in Central Jakarta on Thursday. (kompas.com/Sri Lestari)
National News
Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali has been put on high alert after the terror attacks in
Central Jakarta on Thursday.
According to state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I general manager at Ngurah Rai,
Trikora Harjo, police and military personnel were set to be deployed as a result of the
heightened status.
"In addition to personnel from the Ngurah Rai Airport Police, weve also deployed Mobile
Brigade [Brimob] and the Bali Police's Gegana bomb squad," said Trikora as quoted by
Antara news agency on Friday.
Previously, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu reportedly stated that Bali was likely to be
the next target of the terrorists.
"Jakarta and Bali are known worldwide; thus the impact is huge if they [become a target] of
attack," said Ryamizard on Thursday. (kes)(+)
Officials from the President Cup soccer competition said they were ready to host another
tournament this year, but only after they secured consent from President Joko Jokowi
Widodo.
The President Cup has previously secured Jokowis support in the wake of a national soccer
crisis marked by the cancelation of domestic tournaments and Indonesias isolation from
International tournaments.
The plan became more serious after Erick Thohir vice president commissioner of PT
Mahaka Media (ABBA) that has previously led the President Cups organizing committee
and Maruarar Sirait from the steering committee met with Jokowi at the Palace on Tuesday.
We were also asked to coordinate with [Presidential Chief of Staff] Teten [Masduki] to
prepare for the President Cup tournament this year. We certainly need to improve several
things, Maruarar said after the meeting on Tuesday.
According to Maruarar, the organizers would make efforts to bring more clubs into the
competition should the tournament be held this year, adding that they would also coordinate
with all related parties.
Maruarar, however, stopped short on commenting on the possible time-frame for this years
competition. It was started in August last year. Well make preparations.
Last year, the President Cup, an independent tournament initiated by a number of clubs,
briefly entertained games for soccer fans who had been deprived of the ISL and other
domestic and international competitions.
Erick, who is also Italian soccer club Inter Milans president, said that the organizers were
ready to hold another tournament this year, but only if Jokowi gave consent.
[We are] waiting for an instruction from the President. If he wants it, we will gear up, Erick
said.
A number of soccer clubs from the Indonesian Premiere League competed in the President
Cup late last year, while 24 clubs from the main division contested another tournament
initiated by soccer clubs, the referee organization and transition teams late last year.
Indonesia is currently banned by the world soccer body FIFA from International competitions
following the suspension of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), a move regarded by
FIFA as a form of unacceptable government intervention.
Jokowi has expressed hopes that the two tournaments could contribute to a revival of soccer
frenzy in the country, saying that soccer reform and its revival required patience, sacrifice and
support from all related parties.
Erick, who presented an independent financial audit report of the tournament to Jokowi
during Tuesdays meeting, said that they had an additional of Rp 1.5 billion (US$106,231)
coming from benefits from organizing the competition last year.
According to Erick, the money might be used to help fund another President Cup competition
in the future.
Last years tournament, Maruarar said, was proof that support from all related parties,
including soccer clubs, sponsorship organizations, the executive and the Youth and Sports
Ministry could help ensure the tournament ran well and in a professional manner.
Other than providing entertainment to the public, the competition had also shown that fair
play could be implemented and that the country had good soccer players, Maruarar added.
Persib Bandung emerged as the winner of the President Cup last November, after defeating
Sriwijaya FC 2-0. The victory marked back-to-back national soccer honors for Persib after it
won last years ISL.
The issue on PSSI, however, was not on the table.
[But] Id say that we must indeed find a solution [regarding PSSI] and I believe that the
President is currently thinking about the best way to handle the problem, Maruarar added.