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.