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ollowing a major budget cut, the Tourism Agency will focus spending on ongoing renovation projects and a number of annual signature events, which will be held on a smaller scale.

Agency head Arie Budhiman also said that the budget for community development and training would be pared down.

The agency received Rp 695 billion (US$55.6 million) instead of the proposed Rp 1.1 trillion.

'€œSince the budget cut is significant, we have to prioritize the funds for important programs,'€ he said.

He said his agency would continue the revitalization of two iconic cultural centers in Jakarta: Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) in Central Jakarta and Setu Babakan Betawi village in South Jakarta.

'€œThe TIM project alone will cost about Rp 72 billion [this year],'€ he said.

TIM is home to a number of the city'€™s educational facilities, including a planetarium, theaters, galleries and the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ).

Former Jakarta governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo initiated the revitalization of TIM, earmarking Rp 469 billion of the city budget in 2013. The project, conducted in several phases, is expected to be completed in two years.

Meanwhile, Arie said the budget for Setu Babakan was Rp 50 billion. The revitalization of the Betawi cultural preservation center was also an ongoing project that started in 2011. It was once halted but resumed last year.

The new Setu Babakan will have an amphitheater, traditional Betawi houses, Betawi vocational art school and gallery.

Arie said that as tourism promotion was one of the main tasks of the agency, he would also prioritize promotional activities aimed at a number of countries.

'€œOur target market remains Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore. Visitors from both countries dominate annual visit with 26 percent out of 2.3 million people,'€ he said.

He said existing signature events run by the city administration would still get funds from the city.

'€œWe have many annual signature events, like the Jakarta Great Sale, the Jakarta Night Festival, JakJazz and the Jakarta Biennale,'€ he said.

Arie said most programs would still be held but would be scaled down. '€œWe have to adjust to the budget,'€ he said.

Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama previously decided to cut the budget allocation for the agency, saying that its programs were ineffective.

'€œThey often hold similar events several times. Some of the programs are also fruitless,'€ he said.

Arie said that although funds for the promotion of the 2018 Asian Games not yet been allocated, his agency would try to include it in the 2015 city budget.

'€œIt is important to start thinking about organizing the Asian Games. We'€™ll start planning the promotion this year and start the promotion in 2016,'€ he said, adding that he planned to allocate Rp 7 billion for the event.

Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) chairman Asnawi Bahar said the city administration should focus more on promoting tourism in the city.

'€œThe city has to decide which tourism sites it wants to sell and start focusing on those areas,'€ he said.

Asnawi gave an example of the Malaysia government promoting Langkawi Island over several years until it became popular among foreign tourists.