When old is gold

20 Jun 2018  2054 | World Travel News

Yogyakarta may be a big city in the making, with hotels and shopping malls mushrooming across the city and the latest car models making runs on the roads, but this city remains a stronghold of Javanese culture and heritage.

For Fadli Fahmi Ali, founder and director of Werkudara Travel Management, there is no question Yogyakarta’s cultural identify is well and alive and will continue to be so.
“Culture and heritage are at the heart of the city. Despite the developments, it is culture and art that keeps our business and leisure clients interested,” he stated.

A Hindu ceremony at Yogyakarta’s Prambanan temple to mark the Day of Silence

Archaeological sites like Borobudur Buddhist Temple and Prambanan Hindu Temple, and Kraton (Yogyakarta’s Palace) are key attractions.

However, the fact is that Yogyakarta sees a high rate of repeat visitors. How then do travel companies keep tourists coming after they have crossed out these must-sees?

For Fadli, it comes down to enhancing the overall experience. He said: “There are several other small temples around Prambanan which we take travellers to. And to add to the experience, instead of sitting on a bus, travellers can take a bike, or hop on andongs (horse carts) or becaks (trishaws).”

A temple tour can also be combined with a nearby village, where tourists visit home industries producing tofu, brown sugar, or a local artist’s workshop demonstrating crafts such as wayang leather shadow puppet and wooden masks.

Barama Intercity Tour also combines a sunrise tour to Punthuk Setumbu hill overlooking the Borobudur Temple, followed by a guided tour of the temple and buffet breakfast at Manohara Hotel.

Hasan Prayogo, founder of Omah Kecebong guesthouse, believes local communities need to be an active part of tourism to set the city apart from other destinations.
He said: “I started the project in 2015 with cultural preservation in mind. We created a place for those who have an interest in local culture, while empowering the village and surrounding villages.”

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