The Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) is promoting night tourism in Solo, Central Java, to draw domestic and international visitors as well as increase their length of stay.
Some efforts need to be made to encourage tourists from outside the city to stay longer, Solo ASITA head Pri Siswanto said in Solo on Friday. The mission to promote night tourism is in accordance with the local government’s goal of increasing tourists’ length of stay, he added.
“Like it or not, night tourism needs to be bolstered, not only culinary or shopping, but other forms of attractions also need to be introduced to tourists,” Siswanto affirmed.
He said he hoped the efforts would help increase the length of stay of tourists from the current 1.47 days.
Not only Solo, but some areas like Boyolali and Karanganyar also have natural attractions, with travel agencies offering packages to the destinations, in addition to performing art events, he noted.
“We have combined (Solo, Boyolali, and Karanganyar) as one destination package because they support one another,” Siswanto explained.
According to him, Solo has more cultural tourism, while Karanganyar offers natural attractions.
Earlier, head of the Tourism Office of Surakarta or Solo city, Aryo Widyandoko, said that currently, tourists’ length of stay in Solo is about 1.47 days. Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming is seeking to increase the length of stay to 2.5 days, he noted.
To achieve that goal, the Surakarta administration has prepared a number of plans, such as improving Balekambang Park, work on which will start in the middle of 2022, Widyandoko said.
Moreover, additional events are planned at Solo Palace along with several activities involving the community, he informed.
“The team has prepared a tourism package. One of which is by utilizing electric-based vehicles. We wish that the increase in length of stay can be achieved this year,” he remarked.
Source: Antara News