S

ituated on the slopes of Mt. Slamet, Baturraden has long been known as a holiday destination in Banyumas, Central Java.

The town offers beautiful green scenery and attracts both domestic and foreign tourists, especially from the Netherlands.

However, those who work in the industry say that tourism has failed to develop because no significant developments have occurred in the region over the last 15 years.

"We have an average of 10,000 tourists a year, both domestic and international, but this figure has been the same for 15 years," Tekad Santoso from the Association of the Baturaden Tourism Community (PMPB) told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

According to Tekad, the condition motivated the PMPB to initiate the establishment of the Baturraden Tourism Stakeholder Alliance (BTSA), tasked with developing and marketing the resort in order to attract more tourists to the area.

The alliance, he added, was established at a recent meeting held at his house.

"It was not established to compete with the regency tourism agency.

"In fact, we also involved the agency in the alliance," said Tekad, who has worked as a guide in Baturraden for more than 20 years.

Apart from the agency,Tekad said, other institutions involved in the alliance included the Superior Livestock Breeding Center (BBPTU), Baturraden Adventure Forest (BAF), the Baturraden Tourism Management Unit, PT Perhutani Alam Wisata, Kampoeng Boedaja Poetjungan Ketenger and the PMPB.

Deskart Sotyo Djatmiko, head of tourism at the Banyumas Tourism and Culture Agency, was appointed coordinator of the alliance.

Speaking to the media, Deskart said the alliance was formed to identify market opportunities in the tourism industry, especially consumer interests.

He said his office had received many requests from a number of major cities in the country inquiring about ecotourism, adventure and special interest holiday packages.

"The number of requests is actually quite high.

"Unfortunately, the natural tourism potential as well as the local cultural and natural environment attractions, have not yet been explored," Deskart said.

For this reason, he added, the alliance had developed a new concept to share ideas about how to develop and market Baturaden, including a three-day-two-night package for tourists.

The package, he said, offered a one night stay in a hotel and another night at a local village house.

Package activities include trekking, cycling and the opportunity to try local specialities from the area.

For more adventurous types, Deskart said, tourists could enjoy trekking around the volcano, rafting and riding the flying fox.

At night, a choice of either traditional lengger dancing or kenthongan music will be performed at Ketenger village.

Tourists can also enjoy natural attractions including waterfalls, rice paddies, natural hot springs and of course, the stunning views of Mt. Slamet.

The area also has a hydropower plant built during World War II that could interest history enthusiasts.