From Monas to Eiffel Tower: Jakarta's New Approach to Promoting Itself Globally

Jakarta does not want to be known solely as a crowded and busy city. In recent years, the capital has continuously built a new identity as a creative, inclusive, and opportunity-filled global city. Jakarta tourism is no longer just about physical destinations like Monas or Kota Tua, but also about experiences, lifestyle, art, and dynamic urban culture.

This is the mission brought by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government when launching the "Choose Jakarta 2025" event in Paris, France, on October 8–11, 2025.

This event is designed not merely as an exhibition, but as a massive branding strategy to position Jakarta alongside other global cities like Paris, Tokyo, or Seoul.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Rano Karno, emphasized that this step is a form of Jakarta's confidence to appear on the world stage.

"For MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), now is the time to boldly step into the global market, showcasing Jakarta's creative, resilient, and competitive identity," he stated in his official release on Friday.

Held at Galerie Joseph, Paris, "Choose Jakarta 2025-Goes to Paris" serves as an integrated promotional platform showcasing potential in trade, tourism, and the creative economy.

The 2025 edition is considered a strategic momentum to introduce Jakarta's new modern, open face, ready to compete globally.

For Jakarta's tourism sector, this is a golden opportunity. So far, international tourists often use Jakarta only as a gateway to Bali or Yogyakarta.

Through this event, Jakarta wants to show that the city can be a main destination, not just a transit point.

How? By showcasing Jakarta's unique character, the blend of Betawi culture with the urban creativity of its young generation.

Rano stated this event also serves as a means for economic and cultural diplomacy between Jakarta and Paris.

Through the event, the DKI Provincial Government introduced the strength of the creative economy and the export potential of Jakarta's flagship products.

Additionally, these two culturally rich global cities also exchanged values, lifestyles, and creative ideas.

The event featured over 20 curated businesses from the fashion, culinary, and craft sectors, showcasing Jakarta's flagship products and creative identity to an international audience.

This is Jakarta's way of building its destination image: through products, taste, and stories.

Not only that, to ensure tourism isn't confined to exhibition spaces, various interactive activities were held, including business forums, business matching, thematic talkshows, trunk shows, and Betawi cultural performances.

This collaboration opens opportunities for special interest tourism, such as cultural tourism, creative shopping, and event tourism.

"Choose Jakarta 2025" is part of the DKI Provincial Government's priority program supporting Jakarta's vision as a global and cultured city, as mandated by Law Number 2 of 2024 on the Governance of the Special Capital Region Province of Jakarta.

Through this activity, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government seeks to expand economic and cultural diplomacy while opening global market access for MSMEs that have undergone curation and mentoring according to international standards.

This means Jakarta's tourism destinations are not only buildings and public spaces, but also its people's creative products and experiences.

"From Monas to the Eiffel Tower, we want to affirm that Jakarta has creative power worthy of the world's consideration. This is Jakarta's new face, a global city that remains rooted in culture and opens opportunities for all, including MSMEs and young entrepreneurs," he stated.

If Paris has long been known as a city of world fashion and culture, Jakarta is building its own path. Not to imitate, but to stand equal with an authentic identity and unique character.(Antara)