The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is about to gain a “world class” international theme park in a bid to entice domestic tourists onto planned artificial islands being built off the city’s coastline.

“We aim to develop an international-standard theme park on the planned artificial islets. In the future we also plan to work together with an international operator. We are now assessing the options,” said city-owned developer PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol’s (PJA) president director, Gatot Setyo Waluyo speaking at a plenary session with the city council.

Waluyo said the theme park project, which will cost Rp1.6tn (US$137m, €103.2m, £82.5m), was also aimed at improving the image of the Ancol area of the city, which is infamous for high crime rates and its slums. Plans following the construction of the theme park include hotels, other supporting infrastructure and public transportation.

According to Waluyo, the city-owned enterprise – which also operates an integrated recreation and resort complex in the city offering a range of other visitor attractions – had been in discussions with international operators, though he did not reveal who those operators were.

As part of the development plan, the city’s administration is proposing to inject Rp 5tn (US$426.7m, €321.6m, £257.1m) into the company.

“At the moment, where do rich locals go to for holidays? Singapore, Hong Kong, even Japan. If we have a world-class theme park they will go there instead,” said deputy governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who also said that the theme park would include both entertainment and education zones.

The proposed theme park would be able to accommodate double the numbers of the nearby Ancol Dreamland – a part of the resort owned by PJA which first opened in 1966.