Yogyakarta Governor expects Bantul to be major tourist destination

Bantul, Yogyakarta, (Antaranews Jogja) - Bantul District in the Yogyakarta Special Region should be prepared to be a major tourist destination, with the New Yogyakarta International Airport in Kulon Progo becoming operational in 2019.

"We hope Bantul District would be prepared to become a major tourist destination, as the Kulon Progo Airport will start operations next year," Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X remarked here on Tuesday.

Situated some 15 kilometers south of the Yogyakarta city center, Bantul still has inadequate hotel facilities, so the governor expects investors to invest in the construction of hotels in the district to promote tourism.

So far, tourists keen on visiting Bantul have to stay in hotels in Yogyakarta, but the governor said they faced no problem.

"Importantly, various efforts should be made, so that tourism in Bantul can grow and make this district a major tourist destination," the governor noted.

Bantul District is endowed with beautiful natural scenery and a wide range of interesting tourist villages for foreign and domestic tourists to visit.

Situated along the South Sea on the south of Yogyakarta, the district of Bantul has some scenic beaches and a landscape dominated by rice fields and beautiful villages.

Hence, the governor has expressed hope that the district should continue to develop its tourism as one of the means of supporting the local revenue and attracting more tourists.

Development of tourism in Bantul must be a priority, as most of the foreign tourists arriving in Yogyakarta are keen to visit and stay for a while in the villages in Bantul.

Bantul District has 75 villages of which some 36 have now become tourist villages due to their own potential and attraction.