“I hope this facility can attract international and domestic visitors, thereby increasing the city’s revenue. Serious attention to our seafront areas is crucial to developing Jakarta’s maritime tourism potential in 2008,” said Governor Suriyso.

In collaboration with the private sector, the Cultural and Tourism Ministry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and State Ministry for the Environment will hold an international exhibition next year to promote maritime travel and sports. Sutiyoso believes that the focus must be on providing and developing marine facilities professionally. Sutiyoso also said the city administration should also focus on cleaning garbage and industrial waste from coastal areas. “Garbage has been our main problem for years. Ironically, there hasn’t been any effort from the Sanitation agency to resolve this matter. It this situation continues, it will affect maritime tourism,” he said.

This year’s exhibition of Deep Indonesia 2007, attracted about 7000 visitors during four days. Marina Batavia also provides facilities for visitors who wish to travel to Thousand Inlands regency and the Old Town in West Jakarta. “We have to promote this place so that it can attract tourists and become an interesting destination,” said Sutiyoso in his speech.

Ari Bastaman, a commissioner of PT Caputra, which built Marina Batavia, said he expected the establishment of the marine tourism facility by his company to inspire other firms to invest in this sector. “What is important is that we were willing to build this facility. This place had long been a critical area that was only used by people of Jakarta to dump garbage. But we made use of it,” said Bastaman.  

The new facility has many other facilities including lounges, cafes, restaurants and meeting rooms, as well as providing mooring services.

Ari said that many harbors is the city were neglected, while other maritime countries such as Hong Kong, optimized their seafront areas by providing superb maritime tourism facilities. “It is a pity since our country is on the international sailing track,” he added.