She said that with a unique combination of ancient temples, history, traditions, culture, and natural scenery, Yogyakarta was a very worthwhile place to visit.
"Therefore, development of culture-based tourism in Yogyakarta should be a priority of tourism businesses in this area," Widi Utaminingsih said.
She pointed out that since the beginning until now the regions tourism potentials lay in its traditional arts and culture that were still alive.
"These conditions should be realized again by tourism businesses in Yogyakarta," said Widi Utaminingsih, whose foundation
focuses on cultural and tourism development with local potential.
She said Yogyakarta has since the beginning been a tourist destination because of its cultural potentials that attracted both domestic and foreign visitors.
"Even up to the present the power of the regional tourism remains on the potential of art and culture among the local community," she said.
She noted that many forms of cultural expression were still alive and thriving in the local community.
Therefore, she said, the local government through the department of tourism should continue to keep local art and cultural attractions alive.
According to her, culture-based tourism should realize the philosophy of culture as a tourist access, because the realization of cultural philosophy was not merely a nostalgic matter in the past but had something to do with noble values. (*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
