Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
Two weeks after the earthquake, foreign tourists were back in Yogyakarta on Saturday, sightseeing, strolling along the famous Malioboro shopping street and chatting in cafes or hotels.
""I haven't visited Bantul yet, but in the city center I didn't see anything worrying. It's just like the way I saw it some two years ago when I last visited Yogyakarta,"" Australian tourist Wendy Bruere told The Jakarta Post Saturday.
Bruere arrived in Yogyakarta on Friday with her friend Aphra Perkins, and the two were staying at a hotel on the backpacker's haven Jl. Sostrowijayan.
During the first two days of their visit, Bruere and Perkins had toured the area, visiting the ancient Prambanan temple, Yogyakarta Palace and other tourist sites in the heart of the city.
""We actually wanted to visit Tamansari Water Castle, but it's closed. It's all right for me because we can still visit the other parts of the palace anyway,"" said Perkins.
The water castle and Prambanan were among the historical sites that were affected by the May 27 earthquake.
The two tourists also came at the right time -- when Mt. Merapi was erupting.
Perkins said they had enjoyed an amazing view of the glowing lava flow from their hotel rooms at night.
""It's really wonderful. I've never seen such a view before,"" she said.
Just two weeks after the disaster, Yogyakarta's tourism and tourism-related businesses have announced they are ready to receive visitors again. Tourism is an important sector in the province, contributing some 35 percent of its income.
""At least 12 of our 17 star-rated member hotels and 23 of our 30 member restaurants are already in operation,"" said acting chairman of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) in Yogyakarta, Istidjab M. Danunagoro, in a joint press conference with the Association of Yogyakarta Public Relations.
He said the quake had caused major and minor damage to some of PHRI's member hotels and restaurants.
Those suffering major damage, he said, would need up to nine months to resume operations, while those experiencing minor damage would be opening their doors to guests in just a few days.
The Grand Mercure hotel, for instance, was in full operation and accepting reservations shortly after the quake.
The Melia Purosani, however, was not officially open Friday, but some rooms were available for government or non-governmental aid agencies assisting quake victims.
""We are yet to be able to tell you when we will officially open, since many of our rooms are still under renovation,"" Melia public relations manager Rahayu Diah Sadmawati told the Post.
Among the star-rated hotels suffering major damage are the Jayakarta Hotel and the Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa. Other closed star-rated hotels include the Ibis Malioboro, the Novotel and Apartemen Sejahtera.
Star-rated hotels that have resumed operations include the Hyatt Regency, the Santika, the Grand Mercure and the Jogjakarta Plaza.
""We now have 1,967 rooms available in our star-rated hotels and 859 rooms remain closed,"" said Istidjab.
More rooms are available in non star-rated hotels, of which over 3,000 of about 4,000 rooms were left intact after the quake.
