Jakarta. Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung questioned his rival Ridwan Kamil on Sunday evening about his repeated promises to bring a Disneyland theme park to the capital, which resurface with every election cycle.

Ridwan recently expressed his ambition to build a Disneyland park in the Thousand Islands regency if elected governor of Jakarta. This echoed his campaign promise from the 2018 West Java gubernatorial race, where he proposed building the theme park in Cikarang --a pledge that remained unfulfilled after he won the election six years ago.

During a debate held in North Jakarta, Pramono reminded Ridwan of his unkept promise in West Java, questioning the motive behind reintroducing the Disneyland plan for Jakarta’s election.

“Now, as Brother Emil is running for the Jakarta governorship, he again promises to build a Disneyland park in the Thousand Islands. I’d like to ask -- where exactly will it be built, in the Thousand Islands or Cikarang?” Pramono asked, referring to Ridwan by his popular nickname.

Ridwan responded that the theme park didn’t materialize in Cikarang due to a lack of investment interest.

“About the Disneyland proposal, sometimes we have the political will, but in reality, it doesn’t always align with business interests and other factors,” Ridwan explained during the debate aired by BTV.

Nonetheless, the former West Java governor reiterated his commitment to establishing a Disneyland in Jakarta as a means to boost tourism.

Ridwan argued that visionary leaders should aim high and embrace imagination, rather than sticking to conventional approaches.

According to Ridwan, the goal is to develop a world-class tourist destination in Jakarta, whether that means Disneyland, Universal Studios, or even an upscale residential and tourist area akin to Dubai’s Global Village.

In response, Pramono expressed a preference for enhancing Jakarta’s existing iconic tourist attractions, such as the Ancol coastal resort, Ragunan Zoo, the National Monument, and the Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park.

He also promised to strengthen partnerships between the city government and the private sector, which has recently contributed to attractions like Pantai Indah Kapuk.

“By collaborating on both our iconic destinations and new private developments, we can empower Jakarta’s tourism industry without relying on new projects with uncertain outcomes,” Pramono said.