Central Java strives to attract foreign tourists

Unwilling to be left behind Bali and Yogyakarta, which are famous for their tourist attractions, Central Java plans to launch a program called 2013 Visit Central Java Year to draw visitors to the province.

Various preparations have been made, such as renovating and improving services at Semarang’s Ahmad Yani Airport, tourism villages and constructing overpasses.

“The most important thing from the preparatory program is how to improve the supporting facilities,
such as the airport and access to tourist destinations,” said Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo, after attending a meeting with officials from the Central Java Tourism and Culture Office at the gubernatorial office on Tuesday.

The preparation is estimated to cost more than Rp 23 billion (about US$2.7 million), including costs for maintenance and construction, arts and culture events and promotion. The biggest allocation will go to promotion which could use up to around Rp 9 billion. According to Bibit, available funds remain limited so his office will still ask the House of Representatives for additional funds.

He said that the 2013 Visit Central Java program was more mature in concept compared to the Central Java’s Asia’s Charm promotion program in 2011, which was not well implemented in the field, and promised development and changes had not been carried out thoroughly in the field.

The 2013 Visit Central Java program will be launched at the Borobudur Temple in Magelang on May 24 next year and run to May 28, in conjunction with Borobudur Interhash 2013. As many as 2,480 participants from 49 countries are expected to take part in the event.

Based on data compiled by the Central Java Tourism and Culture Office, the province is home to 35 primary tourism destinations, including culture, religious and agritourism attractions, which were visited by 21.3 million domestic and 318,000 foreign visitors in 2011.

“The figure is projected to rise to 25 million domestic and more than 500,000 foreign visitors by 2013,” said Central Java Tourism and Culture Office head Prasetyo Ariwibowo.

The increase will be supported by a number of international events, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference and Borobudur Interhash 2013.

Of the various primary tourist draws, tourism villages are projected to become the biggest draws, especially for foreign visitors, as Central Java is regarded as having many pristine culturally rich villages.

“There are 50 tourism villages across Central Java that are ready to become hosts to visitors this year. They are the most prepared among the 115 villages in 18 regencies and mayoralties in the province,” Prasetyo said.

When met separately, a visitor from Yogyakarta, Betari Rachmawati, warmly welcomed the planned Visit Central Java 2013 program, but added that he was not happy with the expensive entrance fees charged at tourist attractions.

“Yesterday, I wanted to enter the Lawang Sewu historical building but had to pay Rp 40,000. The attendant said that Rp 10,000 was for entrance to the building and the rest for the guide. That’s too expensive for me,” said Betari, when interviewed in Kota Lama, Semarang.

She said the local administration should consider the costly entrance ticket because not all visitors were rich, especially as Lawang Sewu was a historical tourist destination that was beneficial for many people and therefore should not be too commercialized.

“It would be useless if a tourist attraction were revamped but not everyone could afford it,” Betari said.