The big news of the day here in Jakarta is the arrival of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz. Much has been made about his historic visit to Indonesia, including its possible positive impact on Middle Eastern investment in the country and cooperation on combatting terrorism.
But much more has been made about the enormous numbers attached to the king’s visit. He is reportedly coming with an entourage of 1,500 people including princes, ministers and businessmen.
The group is apparently traveling in style, with a reported 459 tons of luggage in tow as well as two Mercedes-Benz s600 limousines and a pair of portable electric elevators to help move them. The king’s entourage and luggage is being conveyed using six Boeing jets and one Hercules transport aircraft.
While in Jakarta, the group will be staying at three of the city’s most luxurious hotels, the Raffles Hotel, the J.W. Marriott and the Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan. The Indonesian police will be providing additional security personnel for the hotels and are assigning 10,000 officers to guard the king and his group while they are in the capital.
King Salman will be in Indonesia for nine days, six of which will be spent vacationing in Bali. His visit to the archipelago is part of a month-long Asia tour which also includes stops in Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, China and the Maldives.
