Reviving Puncak an uphill battle

Reviving Puncak an uphill battle

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Puncak, West Java

The Bogor tourism agency is fighting to reinstate Puncak as one
of the 10 top tourism spots in Indonesia by organizing a
paragliding competition.

Puncak, the high-altitude tourist resort in West Java, has
been off the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents' (Asita's)
top ten tourist spots list for two years because Asita considers
the region dirty, congested and full of street vendors.

The head of the Bogor tourism agency, Arry Sunardi, said that
holding sports competitions was one of the strategies that the
administration would use to revive the region's image and its
popularity among both foreign and domestic tourists.

Besides offering fresh mountain air, Puncak also offers
perfect spots for paragliders to float thousands of meters above
the ground while enjoying spectacular views of tea plantations in
the region (see photo).

However, problems with hawkers and congestion have caused
Puncak to become a mere stop-over for people on their way to
Bandung, the capital of West Java.

"The administration has been working hard to revive the
region's image as a tourism destination. Besides relocating the
vendors, we will also hold several competitions that will allow
athletes to enjoy the natural scenery of the region," Arry said.

The three-day competition, which was held from June 17 to June
19, attracted 26 paragliders 12 provinces.

The administration hopes that the athletes will spread the
word about their experience of the natural beauty of Puncak, so
that domestic tourists will return to throng the hill area once
more.

In the past, Puncak was neatly planned, with roads lined on
both sides with colorful kana flowers (Canna orientalis). Today,
the flowers have given way to hundreds of hawkers.