Indonesia Presents Traditional Spa Techniques at Yogyakarta Expo

Indonesia Presents Traditional Spa Techniques at Yogyakarta Expo

Indonesia Travel Destination

Jakarta. Indonesia recently featured the Ethno Spa Indonesia 2017 in Yogyakarta on Aug. 12-13 to showcase its world-class spa facilities that can be found across the archipelago.

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"Indonesia’s spa tourism cannot be taken lightly. Just look at the world recognition in 2009 and 2012. At the time, the International Wellness Awards awarded The Best Spa Destination in The World to Indonesia," said Esthy Reko Astuti, the Ministry of Tourism’s deputy for tourism development, on Sunday (13/08).

"This festival is an activity with a goal to develop, preserve and introduce Indonesian spas with traditional herbs to tourists and foreign communities," Esthy added.

The festival comprises an exhibition, promotional sales and a best booth competition, with spa owners coming from across the world to attend.

Some local participants include Martha Tilaar, Jogya Tradisional Treatment, Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa, Putri Kedaton, Nurkadhatyan Spa, Griya Bugar, DS Salon, Gallery Prawirotaman and Djemari.

"In Indonesia, there are lots of spas using a mixture of traditional herbs, providing the 'ethnical' touch, known as the ‘ethno spa.' This has become an attraction for foreign tourists visiting Indonesia,” Esthy said.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s tourism promotion head, Wawan Gunawan, said the traditional treatments inherited by older generations are crucial for the traditional spa industry in the country.

In Yogyakarta, these traditional spa outlets have become one of the leading tourism attractions.

"One of these tourist attractions is the Taman Sari bathing spot, [originally] built in 1789 by a Portuguese architect, as requested by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. The bathing spot was intended for the Sultan and his relatives," Wawan said.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya agreed with his deputies, saying ethno spas are new and sensational.

"Indonesia is the heaven of spas. Some of them are located by the rice paddies, beachfronts, riversides, on the mountains, or accompanied by the flowing water in the river. Everything is available in Indonesia," Arief said.

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