New events, expanded attractions and a stronger promotional push could give leisure tourists more reasons to visit Jakarta, hitherto seen more as a business travel destination.

Jakarta, which is ranked as among the top halal tourist destinations by the 2019 Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI), is gearing up to develop halal tourism.

In addition, the World Moslem Fashion Expo has been confirmed to take place in Jakarta next year, the result of an MoU signed between Salman Diandra Anwar, chairman of Jakarta Tourism Forum (JTF), and Arif Hidayat, president director of Exponent Media Visi, during the 7th Jakarta Marketing Week last month.

“This expo aims to show that Indonesia is the barometer of Muslim fashion in the world,” Salman said.

Salman said this was possible because, among other reasons, Indonesia was home to internationally recognised Islamic fashion designers, such as Dian Pelangi, who showcased her work at the 2019 New York Fashion Week.

He added that he was tying a partnership with the central government, Jakarta administration and private sector players to prepare for the expo, including in areas of promotion and marketing.

Meanwhile, existing leisure attractions in the city are also undergoing expansion.

Teuku Sahir Syahali, vice president director of Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, said he was on a mission to bring attention to attractions in Jakarta such as Ancol Dreamland theme park, comprising Fantasi Land (Dufan) and Sea World.

He said that a New Sea World is in the works, an expansion of the current Sea World said to make the aquarium the largest of its kind in Asia.

“New Sea World is expected to kick off in 2022. It will be bigger than Dufan,” Teuku said during the discussion. “Through the New Sea World, I want to showcase the biodiversity of the Indonesian ocean in Jakarta.”

Teuku added that Taman Impian Jaya Ancol will also introduce nine new attractions in Dufan to lure more local and foreign visitors. Seven of them would be launched in June, such as Baling-Baling (propeller), Paralayang,(paragliding) and Karavel (caravelle). The remaining two – Haunted Coaster and New Fantastique – are scheduled for launch at the end of this year.

All nine attractions will be located in a new three-hectare amusement area named Dunia Kartun (Cartoon World).

“Dunia Kartun is (part of) our effort to give visitors a new experience in Dufan. To be able to compete, we keep working on (innovating) through products with unique characteristics,” he said.

Meanwhile, JTF was also planning to introduce an integrated payment card to enter Jakarta’s tourist destinations, such as Ancol Dreamland recreational park, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah and various museums across the capital, including the National Monument (Monas) Museum.

Salman said the card could be also integrated with the MRT, light rail transit and Transjakarta bus systems. At press time, he was getting into collaboration talks with the relevant companies.

Also keen to develop Jakarta’s tourism, Jakarta Tourism Agency Edy Junaidy said the organisation had invested in social media advertising as well as Tourist Information Centers overseas.

“We also invited influencers from overseas to help us promote tourist attractions in Jakarta. In Tokyo and Seoul, we did promotions in train stations to attract Japanese and South Korean tourists to visit Jakarta,” he said.