Ulma Haryanto

Tourism Ministry Has Plans to Sing Indonesia's Praises

Singer Eddy Silitonga, who enjoyed popularity in the 1970s and ’80s, is set to revive his career via a nine-month, 49-country, five-continent tour as a government-sponsored tourism ambassador.

The tour, dubbed the “Indonesian Team for Culture and Tourism Promo by Eddy Silitonga,” will kick off in April and run until January, according to a press release from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Silitonga’s role as a tourism ambassador will cover three main activities. These are giving shows in public venues, including cafes, restaurants and hotels; establishing “people-to-people contacts”; and organizing “Indonesian Art Nights” at the Indonesian embassies in each of the countries he will visit.

Two groups will support the program. The first is “Journey Team,” which comprises six people, including Eddy himself. The second is the “Supporting Team,” which will monitor and provide logistical support throughout the tour. The support team will include a television cameramen who will document the entire tour.

The teams will travel in two cars, with an outdoor LCD screen attached to one of the vehicles to show films on Indonesian culture and tourism.

Iqbal Allen, head of the Indonesian Congress and Convention Association, however, expressed concern that the tour would be just another waste of state funds.

“Of course he [Silitonga] can promote Indonesia wherever he goes, but every Indonesian should do that,” Iqbal said, adding that it was important for Indonesian tourism ambassadors to have a background in the industry.

“Besides, he’s already old, it might be too much [strain] if he is to fly to 49 countries and sing in each of them. The ministry definitely needs to review this decision,” he said.

Firmansyah Rahim, director general of destination development at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, defended the move, saying it was a good initiative and that Eddy had a beautiful voice.

“He is the right person to promote the country,” he said.

Eddy Silitonga was born in 1950 in North Sumatra. He is famous for his high-pitched voice and has written many songs in Bahasa Indonesia as well as in ethnic languages such as Batak and Javanese.

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