Sunday, November 25, 2012

Jakarta to turn ‘Kota Tua’ into Venice

The Jakarta administration plans to give Kota Tua (Old Town) a major makeover and turn the crowded area in northern Jakarta into a Venice-like tourism spot.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama recently said that the renovation of Kota Tua should turn the area into an exclusive, high society area. The new Kota Tua complex is expected to cater to the middle and upper classes.“We have to shape Kota Tua as sophisticated and expensive. A five-star hotel will not be exclusive if it sells a cup of coffee for Rp 5000 (5 US cents). The same metaphor applies to Kota Tua,” he was quoted by kompas.com as saying.

According to Basuki, the city administration has allocated Rp 12 billion from the 2013 regional budget to restore the semi-slum once known as “The Queen of the East”. Much more funds, in excess of Rp 150 billion, will pay for the total renovation of Kota Tua, including several historical buildings, in 2014.

source:
www.thejakartapost.com

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/11/23/issues-day-jakarta-turn-kota-tua-venice.html

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