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Diamonds hoped to become jewel in Bandung's tourism crown
Diamond quality: The historical Archduke Joseph Diamond is presented at a Christieâs auction preview in Geneva, Switzerland
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Diamond quality: The historical Archduke Joseph Diamond is presented at a Christieâs auction preview in Geneva, Switzerland. Recently launched at the Citra Green Dago Complex area in Bandung, Indo Wisata Permata is offering tours of the diamond manufacturing process from raw material to finished goods. (AP/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron) (AP/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)
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span class="inline inline-center">Diamond quality: The historical Archduke Joseph Diamond is presented at a Christie's auction preview in Geneva, Switzerland. Recently launched at the Citra Green Dago Complex area in Bandung, Indo Wisata Permata is offering tours of the diamond manufacturing process from raw material to finished goods. (AP/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)
Home to refreshingly lush highlands and affordable shopping and culinary destinations, Bandung in West Java is already a popular retreat for domestic as well as foreign tourists. But it recently set its eyes on a new tourism icon: diamonds.
Recently launched at the Citra Green Dago Complex area in Cidadap district, Indo Wisata Permata offers a tour of the diamond manufacturing process from raw material to finished goods.
Indo Wisata Permata manager Yofi Mesa Yudi said Indonesia was known as a producer of high-quality diamonds, yet the manufacturing process still uses traditional methods, and was thus less competitive in the global market.
"Starting today, we are opening our doors for all diamond enthusiasts to directly witness the manufacturing process of raw diamonds into high-quality products with high value using the best machines and skilled workers," said Yofi in Bandung on Sunday as quoted by Antara news agency.
The skilled workers are said had been brought from India. Visitors will be able to marvel at the craftsmanship behind the glass screen.
Yofi said visitors could also purchase finished goods for competitive prices starting from Rp 1 million (US$75) to Rp 1 billion.
"This is the first diamond educational tourism site in Asia. Indeed, other countries have this kind of tourism, but they don't openly show the manufacturing process from scratch until it becomes a beautiful diamond," said Yofi.
Visitors to Indo Wisata Permata will need to purchase a ticket priced at Rp 50,000. They will later be given a Rp 50,000 voucher that they can use to buy food and beverages provided at the location.
A diamond enthusiast who joined Sunday's opening tour, Yuni, said the place offered a very different experience from a trip to a normal diamond shop.
"Here you can learn about how diamonds are manufactured starting from the very beginning until the finished goods. Everything is clear and transparent,' said Yuni. (kes)(+)
