Malang polishing its image as tourist destination

Malang polishing its image as tourist destination

By Adi Samekto

MALANG, East Java (Antara): Few tourists, apparently, head to
this cool town, famous for its high-grade apples, despite the
numerous unique attractions it offers.

Tourists from other cities going to scenic Mount Bromo,
probably East Java's main attraction, usually transit in
Probolinggo or Pasuruan instead of Malang.

In fact, Malang, a 3,730 square kilometer city, has tremendous
potential as a tourist destination in East Java.

The city of 1.1 million people has a wide variety of tourist
spots -- natural, cultural or agricultural. But, what a shame,
none has been seriously developed.

Tourism in Malang still centers on the western part of this
cool city, especially the Batu area, where facilities are the
most complete.

Other parts of Malang have great potential but infrastructure
and tourist facilities are yet to be properly developed. For
example, roads leading to 12 tourist destinations in southern
Malang are in ruin. The bad roads have discouraged investors from
building facilities such as hotels and restaurants there. This
not to mention the lack of telecommunications facilities and
drinking water.

Malang is undoubtedly rich in tourist sites, including a roof
tile factory in Mangliawan village, a natural spring in Wendit
and temples in Jago and Kidal. It boasts agrotourism like apple
orchards and vegetable gardens. Other attractions include Coban
Pelangi waterfall, a traditional mask dance and a protected
forest reserve.

En route to Mount Bromo, Malang offers more scenic landscape
than other towns, say like Probolinggo, do. Unlike in Probolinggo
or Pasuruan, holidaymakers going to Mount Bromo via Malang will
have no problem with clean water.

But most tourists to Bromo prefer to go through Probolinggo
and Pasuruan, obviously because of the smoother roads.

Soenardi, chief of the Malang office of tourism, said the most
urgent project was to repair a 12.5 kilometer road connecting
Malang and Mount Bromo. Another plan is to make available utility
vehicles for holidaymakers to hire to take to Mount Bromo.

Soenardi said he was upbeat Malang would be more attractive if
it upgraded its infrastructure and built more facilities. Ngadas
village will benefit the most if Malang becomes the main gate to
Mount Bromo. People can rent out their homes as a hostel or open
a souvenir business.

At present, the Malang administration has linked up with
Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park to build a parking estate.

"We have designed the parking estate in such a way so that no
trees will be felled, so that the project will not disturb the
environment," Soenardi said.

The East Java provincial government is serious about
developing tourism in the area. The Malang tourism office has
been given a wider authority concerning management of non-star-
rated hotels, restaurants, tourist sites and amusement centers.

Until then, many tourist sites in Malang, such as Coban Rondo,
Coban Pelangi, Sendangbiru Beach and Jonggring Saloka were
overseen by Perhutani, the state-run forestry company.

East Java governor Imam Utomo has underlined the need to
develop Malang as one of the province's main destinations.