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Transformation looms at Baron Beach, Yogyakarta
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View of Baron Beach in Yogyakarta, Central Java, on May 17, 2017. (Shutterstock/Anaretsa77)
The Gunungkidul regency government in Yogyakarta will introduce a new plan to transform Baron Beach.
Kompas.com reported that the plan is designed to attract more travelers to visit and stay longer in the area.
Aside from hosting a harbor for fishing vessels, Gunungkidul is a culinary center.
Drajat Ruswandono, regency secretary in Gunungkidul, on Thursday said, “We are creating a masterplan and detailing the engineering design. We will also discuss the plan with the public this year, and the transformation will begin in 2019.”
A number of projects under the plan include building new roads and redesigning layout arrangements of fresh fish, souvenir and food seller stalls.
"The face of Baron Beach will be totally transformed,” Drajat said.
The government will also make changes to Krakal Beach, primarily to provide an integrated parking space on a 4.5-hectare plot of land.
“Once the work on Baron Beach is completed, we will shift to other beaches,” Drajat said.
Read also: Yogyakarta to transform into Indonesian Silicon Valley
In the future, all tourist buses visiting the beach must park at Krakal Beach. Visitors then will be transported using shuttle buses.
However, the plan has been criticized by sellers at the beach. Pomo, head of Kelompok Sadar Wisata (Tourism Awareness Group), said there are around 560 sellers at Baron Beach.
He acknowledged the area was congested, but said it was considered normal.
“Sellers are located in their places, so it is incorrect to say that the beach is disorganized,” he said. “Everyone is where they’re supposed to be.”
Pomo expressed hope that the government will explain the plan to the public and sellers.
He also said he hoped the government would act fairly and implement the changes at other beaches.
“There’s no guarantee that with the new arrangement our income will increase. We ask the government to think about the people and the sellers whose livelihoods depend on this beach,” he said. (wng)
