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Kalla Wants 25m Texts to Put Komodo Island Back in '7 Wonders' Running
October 05, 2011

Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla during a visit to Komodo Island on Wednesday. Jusuf has been appointed as the ambassador to campaign for the island Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla during a visit to Komodo Island on Wednesday. Jusuf has been appointed as the ambassador to campaign for the island's recognition as a New 7 Wonders of Nature. (Reuters Photo)
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Yakty-yak
12:15pm Oct 8, 2011

Jusuf Kalla has demonstrated more swag and savvy about tourism promotion than current Tourism Minister Jero Wacik has exhibited in nearly 7 years holding the position. Wacik is a liability to Indonesia's attempts to position itself amongst fellow ASEAN destinations, his absence of marketing sophistication, shallow understanding of promotion, and physical inertia make a mockery of Indonesia's tourism and culture promotion efforts.

If SBY truly wanted to invigorate his Cabinet he might start by drafting Kalla to replace Wacik. And while the former would likely not take the position it just might have be enough to awaken Wacik from his prolonged ministerial stupor.

If wishes were fishes....


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Despite the Tourism and Cultural Ministry’s decision to withdraw Komodo Island from the New Seven Wonders of Nature (N7WN) List, independent campaigner and Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla is encouraging millions of people to vote anyway.

““The chance is still wide open," Kalla, the ambassador for Komodo Island, told Antara on Tuesday. "There are 150 million mobile phone users in Indonesia. We still have 40 days. So, 25 million people sending text messages will be enough.”

Voting by text message ends on Nov. 11.

Indonesia and the New7Wonders foundation became embroiled in a dispute following the foundation’s allegations that the Ministry had reneged on its commitment to host an event to announce the competition’s winners.

The Ministry, however, said that there had been no agreement signed on the matter and that the foundation was asking for too much money to hold the ceremony. The Ministry withdrew Komodo Island National Park from the global competition promoting independent campaigners to become involved.

Kalla hopes that a win for Flores will increase the region’s international recognition on par with Bali.

“This region will be famous, and people will stay in Flores, not on other islands. The whole world will know, and NTT [East Nusa Tenggara], which is now the poorest region, will improve in term of its people's welfare,” he said.

Antara, JG