Jakarta aims to be recognised as a “city of cinema” by 2027 as part of its efforts in inbound tourism promotion.
The Indonesian capital seeks to become a leading hub for the film industry by promoting its potential as a production destination, growing its creative economy and attracting international investment.
Since launching its first pavilion at the Cannes Film Market in May, Jakarta has launched a new website promoting filming locations across the city and a Film Commission to act as a one-stop-service agency for filmmakers.
Officials hope to capitalise on film tourism, the phenomenon where travellers visit a destination featured in a movie or tv show, which is expected to be worth US$128.2 billion globally by 2032, according to market intelligence company Reports and Insights.
The niche is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in travel, and a study by technology company Photoaid shows 78 per cent of travellers are “likely” or “very likely” to book a film tourism trip.
“We want people to see the words ‘Jakarta, Indonesia’ on the screen and be inspired to come here,” said Abdul Haris of the Jakarta marketing board. “We want to showcase Jakarta as a brand: for doing business, for being liveable, for visiting as a tourist.”
Haris said filmmakers can also put a spotlight on the city’s lesser-known places such as The Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) tropical archipelago in Jakarta Bay, while introducing the city’s culture, particularly to key markets in Asia, Europe and North America.
