The lush jungle on Menoreh Hill is a newly opened area of the Borobudur Highland. Tourism is blooming in harmony with nature and in collaboration with the local people.
By
Haris Firdaus and Gregorius M. Finesso
·4 minutes read
Like a flash of light, Borobudur Temple shines through the surrounding darkness. The lush jungle on Menoreh Hill is a newly opened area of the Borobudur Highland. Tourism is blooming in harmony with nature and in collaboration with the local people.
Cold crept through the De Loano Glamping campground on Wednesday evening (16/10/2019) in Purworejo regency, Central Java. As the sunlight faded into the horizon, the lights at the glamorous camping facility turned on one by one, their glow penetrating through the pine trees as the sounds of night creatures filled the air.
"This is my first time here. It is just so calming," said Eka Fitriani, 23, a tourist from Yogyakarta who was staying at the nomadic-style De Loano Glamping in Sedayu village, Purworejo.
This is my first time here. It is just so calming.
Eka was visiting with friends from the office. They wanted to try out the tents that the De Loano management had readied.
The luxury campground has five regular tents, one VIP tent and five extra tents, and can accommodate up to 60 visitors. The VIP and regular tents have a bamboo base and resemble stilt houses, while the extra tents are dome-shaped.
Visitors are greeted with immediate comfort upon entering a tent. Despite the cold of the local environment, it is warm inside. This is because the regular and VIP tents are made of a dual layer of special materials. The first layer is made of waterproof material, while the second layer provides insulation from the cold.
Each tent contains mattresses, pillows and blankets. It is equipped with lights and electrical sockets for recharging gadgets. The VIP tents also have tables and chairs.
The campground also provides are bathrooms with sitting toilets and hot water. There is also a ballroom, an open-air stage and a prayer room. It costs Rp 300,000 (US$21.33) per person per night, including two meals.
"As for the facilities, it\'s really great here," said Eka, who works at a shopping mall in Yogyakarta.
Her friend Supriyanto, 46, said that the natural environment at De Loano was good for refreshing the mind. "We work at the mall every day. Here, we can refresh ourselves. It feels like we\'re in a hotel, even though [we’re] in the middle of the forest," he said.
I wanted to try a different environment for our vacation.
Aside from corporate groups, the nomadic tourism that De Loano offers is also gaining popularity among young families. Resti Maharani, 35, of Seturan in Sleman regency, stayed at De Loano during the yearend school holiday earlier this year with her husband and first-grader son.
"I wanted to try a different environment for our vacation and so my son could be closer to nature. [De Loano] matched my expectations. My son was very comfortable, even though he was sleeping in a tent in a forest," said the private bank employee.
Synergy
The 1-hectare De Loano Glamping campground is part of the Borobudur Highland that is managed by the Borobudur Authority Agency (BOB), which falls under the Tourism Ministry. One of the BOB’s tasks is to develop a 309-hectare authority zone in Purworejo as a new travel destination. Located around 12 kilometers from Borobudur Temple, De Loano is expected to boost and extend tourist stays.
De Loano Glamping’s Muhammad Ramadhan said the luxury campground was developed through strong synergy with local residents who, for example, provided meals and laundry services for guests, as well as security, cleaning and maintenance.
De Loano also works in synergy with local attractions like the renowned Nglinggo Tea Plantation, which is located just several hundred meters away in Pagerharjo village, Samigaluh district, Kulon Progo.
There, visitors can take in panoramic views of the tea plantation and the Menore Hill while sipping premium teas cultivated by local farmers. "The tea here uses organic fertilizer and is certified pesticide free," said Nglinggo tea farmer Sukohadi, 55.
Guests at De Loano Glamping can also take the off-road jeep tours of the pine forest and Menoreh Hill that is offered by the youths of Pagerharjo village. Visitors who want to try the local cuisine can head to the Menoreh Sunday market in Sedayu village.
BOB president director Indah Juanita said that tourism in the Borobudur Highland continued to improve, and now included a downhill cycling track.
It is hoped that the environment-oriented tourism development of the Borobudur Highland will attract more tourists and improve the local welfare, while promoting environmental sustainability.