Centra Wonosobo to open

JAKARTA (JP): Wonosobo, a small town in Central Java, will see its first star-rated international hotel open next week.

The 115-room Centra Wonosobo hotel is owned by PT Krisna Duta Wisata of the Krisna Group which is controlled by businessman Bambang R. Soegomo.

Spokesperson for Krisna Duta, Ita Pattiradjawane, said here yesterday that the four-star hotel would be officially opened by Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave on Dec. 12.

She said that the hotel was managed by PT Southern Pacific Indonesia, a subsidiary of Australia's Southern Pacific Hotel Corp.

"The hotel aims to serve both domestic and overseas tourists or travel groups."

"Wonosobo is popular because of its location near the Dieng plateau and the Serayu River, which is known for its tobacco plantations and rafting," Ita said.

The Centra Wonosobo itself had an interesting historical background, she said.

The hotel was initially built in 1936 and named Hotel Dieng. Later it was renamed Hotel Merdeka, she said.

The building was renovated with an investment of US$13 million as Centra Wonosobo which is located on a 1.5 hectare plot, she added. (icn)