As the capital of Indonesia, one of the core members of ASEAN, Jakarta is the metropolitan center having a population of approximately 9 million, and with an incredibly unique diversity of tribes, language, culture and traditions. It is truly a "Melting Pot" of representatives from throughout the archipelago.

Jakarta has extraordinarily developed and will be at the forefront of tourism in Asia over the next few decades. An amusement park, a forest of skyscrapers, high fashion shopping centers, finest culinary dining, nightlife and entertainment places, luxurious housing, hotels and apartments, research institutions, excellent education facilities and cultural organizations have certainly made Jakarta to be one of the most demanding of tourism cities. The Capital City is the prominent gateway to the rest of Indonesia. From Jakarta, sophisticated land, air and sea transport is available to the rest of the country.

Jakarta's reputation has rapidly developed as the "tourism city" as there are many new tourism infrastructures, entertainment centers, and international-class hotels and restaurants. Jakarta also possesses many historical places and a cultural heritage. Tourism, one of the service industries, has developed rapidly and possesses many opportunities to get developed well into the future. It has a new, elegant Convention Center which can house 3000 people. It keeps on developing its infrastructure in order to attract the world's attention to hold some international events. In this way, it is obvious that the government is trying to develop Jakarta as an equal to other big cities in the world.

In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife and modern shopping centers. It contains many tourist attractions such as the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful "Indonesia in Miniature" Park - popularly called TMII), restored colonial period buildings, island resorts in the Pula Seribu (Thousand Islands), and an extensive beach recreation complex called Ancol. "Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park" - built to portray the variety of cultures found across the many islands that make up Indonesia - is an open-air museum that comprises the many architectural forms and traditions of all Indonesia's provinces.

Jakarta has preserved its past and is developing for the future. Skyscrapers in the center of the city are part of a new look. Modern luxury hotels today cater to discriminating visitors. Transport within the city is plentiful. Jakarta is the center of the nation's industrial, political and cultural life. It is home to many of the country's finest research institutes, educational facilities, and cultural organizations. Jakarta is uniquely the seat of both the national as well as the regional government.

Over the last several decades, Jakarta has proudly developed into one of Asia's most prominent metropolitan centers. Today, Jakarta's skyline is covered by modern high rises. The many state-of-the-art shopping centers, recreation complexes and toll-roads have become hallmarks of the city. The quality of life and the general welfare of its inhabitants have improved considerably with the city's fast pace of development. Jakarta's cultural richness and dynamic growth contribute significantly to its growing importance as one of the world's leading capital cities.

Contact the reporter at larryhuangshuo@163.com