Tourists Care Program: Central Java, Indonesia

It is always inspiring to find a group of people wanting to turn a bad situation around. The crew at yogyes.com are doing just that by appealing to people to visit the beautiful and ancient city of Yogyakarta albeit damaged at the moment.

Their Tourists Care Program is a fantastic idea and offers people the chance first hand the devastation that has occurred in their city. Some people may say this is ghoulish but this is not the case. By tourists going to Yogyakarta now it will be putting money back into the community and assist those who are suffering. In a way it is the same as the Balinese who appealed for tourists to return to the island after the devastating bombings there.

Most of you know that Yogyakarta has a special place in my heart and it is a place I have written about often over the years. I will be heading home to Yogyakarta in a few months for a while and look forward to meeting the guys at yogyes.com

Here is what the guys at yogyes.com have on their website:

If you had planned to make your tour to Yogyakarta in 2-3 months ahead and you do not cancel your trip, you have acted to help Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta still has many tourism objects that are not influenced by the earthquake and are worth enjoying. The exotic Malioboro has returned to its normal life; food sellers (crossed-leg restaurants) and the handicraft sellers begin to color the popular street in Yogyakarta. The natural beaches in Gunung Kidul look beautiful as they are. Borobudur temple stands so marvelously. Most parts of Prambanan temple are in a good condition. You can even see and take pictures of the restoration process; such a rare view isn't it?

Many hotels operate normally (in its real meaning), so do restaurants, taxis, car rental, Circle-K#44; etc. Tour operators are ready to accompany your trip. Transportation? Hmm….

Adisucipto airport in Yogyakarta has served commercial flights since day D++2. Inter-city trains and buses are not influenced by the disaster at all.

"What about foods? Will I be the burden to the logistics?". Come on, be realistic. The life in most parts of the northern Yogyakarta has run normally. There is no problem with logistic supply in this area.

"Tourists Care" Program

Some hotels in Yogyakarta hold tourists care program by taking the tourists to the areas that were struck by the earthquake to give direct donation to the victims.

The hotels are:

Delta Homestay (+62 274 372064)
Duta Garden Hotel (+62 274 372064)
Duta Guest House (+62 274 372064)

To take in this program, tourists register themselves to be coordinated further. Each participant is expected to donate at least USD 50 per person. The hotels will then take tourists to location of the disaster to give their donation directly. It will take around 2 hours for this visit.

The cost for car rent, driver, and gasoline are fully born by the hotels. No additional charge or requirement for the tourists to have to stay at those hotels to take part in this program.

This program will run from 3 June 2006 until undetermined time limit.