Practitioner: Temon District Can Become a Driving Force for Kulon Progo’s Economy
Kulon Progo (ANTARA) – Yogyakarta tourism practitioner Kus Endarto says Temon District in Kulon Progo Regency is strategically positioned to drive the local economy through tourism, supported by Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) as a magnet for people and investment.
Speaking in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta Special Region, on Sunday, Kus said the key to the regency’s economic development was its ability to make the most of YIA.
“The airport must be able to turn arriving passengers into tourists who stop, stay overnight and spend money,” he said.
Kulon Progo, he said, had a wide range of comparative advantages, from the landscapes of the Menoreh Hills to its coastal areas.
Its agricultural base, local food and Menoreh rural identity also provided a strong foundation for offering visitors a variety of experiences within a single area.
To strengthen the sector, tourism development in Kulon Progo is being focused on several key performance indicators. These include increasing local own-source revenue from tourism, visitor numbers, length of stay, tourist spending, employment and investment.
Under the direction of Kulon Progo’s 2025–2045 Regional Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPD), the priority tourism development corridor comprises Temon, Kokap, Girimulyo and Samigaluh, with Nanggulan and Kalibawang as supporting areas.
“Of these areas, Temon District has been designated the top priority for the next five years,” he said.
Temon is considered to have strong potential because it is adjacent to YIA, has adequate transport links and is close to coastal tourist destinations.
Tourism development there is therefore focused on strengthening the MICE sector—meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.
However, Kus noted that the area still faced challenges. Three large hotels are currently operating in Temon District—Hotel Morazen, Hotel Novotel and Hotel Ibis—but their occupancy rates remain very low.
To address this, he said a distinctive attraction was needed to persuade residents and tourists to make a deliberate trip to Kulon Progo, rather than simply passing through.
“One strategic proposal being advanced is the construction of an international-standard, multi-purpose indoor arena complex near YIA,” he said.
Kus said the facility was expected to have a role and concept similar to Indonesia Arena at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno complex.
The multi-purpose indoor arena complex is planned as a centre for MICE activities and national and international events in Kulon Progo and surrounding areas.
“The arena, together with a year-round calendar of events, is expected to become a key reason for tourists to travel here,” he said.
Under the proposed concept for the YIA Arena site in Kebonrejo, Temon, the facility would occupy a conceptual area of about 10 hectares and have a capacity of around 8,000 spectators.
The site would include an indoor arena measuring approximately 120 by 100 metres, a micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) plaza, a four-storey car park, green space and a retention pond.
It would also incorporate modern supporting facilities, including a plaza and fountain, a jogging track, a two-storey mosque, a loading dock, underground VIP/VVIP parking and a proposed rooftop helipad.
“This initiative is expected to realise the concept of YIA as a key driver of sustainable economic growth and tourism in Kulon Progo,” he said.