Bogor Botanical Garden, a candid story

Bogor Great Botanical Garden Requires Touch

The main gate

Let us briefly look at Kebon Raya Bogor- the Great Botanical Garden. This Big name need support, even just a little, from the owner LIPI (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia – Indonesia Institute of Science) and the tourism stakeholders. Support to make something that can really represent the name worldwide, as well as its attractiveness as tourist spot.

We see the main gate. Appearance is genuine since maybe a hundred years. There are buildings from 1998 at the entrance, that’s what made the cafeteria. Food was offered for the local public. But tourists can sit pretty for a while in there for coffee. In ground floor, there is a ’shop’ that provides books from small to thick ones containing stories on Kebon Raya. Of course there are also leaflets that provide maps and illustrative pictures and a choice spot in the Kebon Raya. Leaflet as guidance and practical information for tourists are printed in English.

The shop underneath

Too bad ’shop’ was, however in an expensive building, looks dull. And there also is the headquarters for tour guide, waiting business from the guests who will come at any time.

Is there a problem?

Let’s remember the psychology of foreign tourists. They come from the developed countries. Natural forest or hand made, garden road, until
museums, in their country, when visited, at the stage entrance
you can bet they are given guidance leaflets with practical information for free. In some countries in such places similar to Kebon Raya Bogor, there is usually available one room after bypassing the entrance for welcoming. There, sometimes officers welcomed the guests with a ‘briefing of five minutes’. Only then each group will continue the review guided by their tour guide respectively.

In Bogor Botanical Garden as it is called, it was all there. Leaflets must be purchased USD 5000 or half a US dollar. Officers at the counter explained, approximately 20s of average daily foreign tourists came to buy. But, small buses or cars with four to six people, usually drive directly into and around the area of Kebon Raya without  stopping in the cafeteria or in the guide books shop ..

The officer also admitted it, most tourists ask why there is no brochure or sheet of instructions provided complimentary, as in other places like that? The officers were impressed that for a long time and until now, mostly foreign tourists from the Netherlands only which dominate the visit. This raises an indication that Kebun Raya Bogor was less successful marketed.

The booklet on sale in the ’shop’ is available in various languages: German, Dutch, English, French, Chinese, Japanese. Price book is between Rupiah 15,000 or USD 1.5 to Rupiah 30,000.

Kebon Raya Bogor has been 191 years old since its establishment officially on May 18, 1817 by Prof. CGC Reidnwart. He is an expert botanist from Germany, who became Dutch citizens. Over 87 hectares of land area, Kebun Raya Bogor Palace has building of  Presidency Palace in which various high-level meeting of the world ever held.

Visitors will tour in the middle of the tall trees and large.
There are hundred years old trees. There maintained in the context of life
and scientific programs of plants totaling 13,697 specimens, which
grouped into 3441 species, 1265 genera and 220 families.

Entrance fee per person Rp 10,000 or U.S. $ 1, for a car Rp 15,500 and a motorcycle Rp 3,000. Tour guide per hour cost Rupiah 75,000 or US$ 7.5 for guiding a group of less than 10 people. Groups over 10 people shall pay Rupiah 100 thousand per hour or US$ 10.

Large buses can only stop at the gate to drop the guests, and will be parked in the parking specifically provided, about 300 meters away. This bus will return to the front door gates to pick up again the guests. ==