For REGENCY PROFILE/July 23

For REGENCY PROFILE/July 23

Parangtritis Beach remains prime tourist spot

Bantul regency has quite a number of tourist attractions, with
the most well-know destination being Parangtritis Beach, some 29
kilometers to the south of Yogyakarta.

Parangtritis is a major contributor to the regency's revenue
and also contributes to the income of residents in its vicinity.
In 2001 more than 1.5 million local and foreign tourists visited
the area.

The attraction of Parangtritis lies in its expansive,
beautiful and mysterious beach. Bordered on the east and north by
Bukit Seribu (A Thousand Hills), the beach boasts some sand
dunes.

Another unique spot is the Parang Wedang hot water springs,
which are said to be able to cure certain skin diseases.

Another tourist attraction is the adjacent Parangkusumo Beach.
Local people believe that the mythical Queen of the South Ocean,
Ratu Kidul, uses the beach as a meeting place with the founder of
the Javanese kingdom, Panembahan Senopati. On certain Fridays in
the Javanese calendar, devotional services are held, which
attract thousands of local and foreign tourists. On the first day
of Suro (the first month of the Javanese calendar) hundreds of
thousands of people gather at the beach to take part in the
ritual.

Various other fascinating rituals connected to Ratu Kidul are
performed at Parangtritis Beach on certain Tuesdays and on the
first of the Muharam month as per the Javanese calendar.

Apart from numerous hotels and restaurants found near the
beach, horse and carts for tourists to travel in around the area
are also numerous.

Other interesting tourist attractions are Pandansimo Beach,
Cerme Cave, Gajah Cave, Selarong Cave, the sacred Imogiri
cemetery for Javanese kings and the Wayang Museum (Shadow Puppet
Museum). The Bantul regency is also famous for its handicrafts,
which are popular among both foreign and domestic tourists.

Business opportunities, especially in tourism, are in
abundance in Bantul regency.

The area does not have a star-rated hotel in spite of the
great number of domestic and foreign tourists. Restaurants and
other tourism-related businesses should be a sound business
investment here.