Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - Ten content creators from six friendly countries promoted Indonesian culture through the Friends of Indonesia (FOI) 2023 program. The participants of this program came from Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.
This activity was a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency. The FOI 2023 participants visited several cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, Solo, and Bali in mid-August.
Yusron B. Ambary, Director of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, encouraged participants to further promote Indonesia.
"Let us strengthen diplomatic relations and showcase the beauty and potential of Indonesia to the world through the Friends of Indonesia (FOI) 2023 program," he said in a media release on Monday (21/8/2023).
Meanwhile, the Head of the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency invited FOI 2023 participants to promote Jakarta as a must-visit destination for foreign tourists.
During their first visit to Jakarta, FOI 2023 participants had the opportunity to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Secretariat. They witnessed how Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN 2023 is progressing and ASEAN's achievements in realising its vision as the "Epicentrum of Growth."
Afterwards, FOI 2023 participants visited the Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral. There, they had the chance to pass through the Silaturahmi Tunnel, which symbolises religious harmony in Indonesia.
On the next day, FOI 2023 participants visited various iconic landmarks in Jakarta, such as the National Monument and Jakarta Old Town. Here, participants saw historical buildings and learned about the Dutch colonial history in Indonesia.
The journey continued to Solo. In Solo, participants learned about the history of batik at the Danar Hadi Batik Museum. Participants were enthusiastic to see the various batik patterns and the philosophies behind them. The visit then continued to Pasar Gede Hardjonagoro and Tien Kok Sie Temple, where participants experienced the daily life of the local Solo community and enjoyed local food products.
"Indonesia is known for Bali, but there are various cultures in Indonesia that should be known. I believe Jakarta and Solo are part of that. However, we must balance cultural exposure with conservation efforts to prevent over-tourism," said Elise McLean, a content creator from Australia.
After Solo, FOI 2023 participants headed to Bali and enjoyed water rafting on the Ayung River, Ubud, Bali. Participants were amazed by the serene beauty of Ubud's nature and the lush forest along the river. After witnessing the natural beauty of Ubud, participants had the opportunity to experience Indonesian culture by watching the Kecak Dance against the backdrop of the open sea at Uluwatu Temple located in South Kuta, Bali. (WHY)
