Tourism Village as a New Idol

It is as if Indonesian tourism has found a new idol: the tourist village. As the new prima donna, the development of tourist villages must remain sustainable.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

The courtyard of the Tuanku Imam Bonjol Museum in the Equator Monument area, Nagari Ganggo Mudiak, Bonjol District, Pasaman, West Sumatra, Monday (5/9/2022).

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a real impact on various aspects of human life, including tourism as a part of the economy. Social restrictions during the pandemic caused visits of both domestic and foreign tourists to drop dramatically.

As the pandemic is increasingly under control, the government is intensifying economic recovery; one way to do so is by boosting tourist visits and by optimizing the volume of visits to mainstay destinations, such as the island of Bali.

Similar efforts are being made for visits to five super-priority destinations that have been set by the government, namely Borobudur (Central Java), Toba (North Sumatra), Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara), Likupang (North Sulawesi) and Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara).

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Moreover, the passion for developing tourist villages throughout the country also creates an atmosphere of optimism. This phenomenon is in line with the increasing number of residents who visit tourist villages. It is not surprising that, along with the surge in visits, as stated by Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar, the income of tourism village businesses has also increased.

Nagari Ganggo Mudiak in Bonjol district, Pasaman regency, West Sumatra, can be one proof of efforts to optimize the potential of tourist villages. Ganggo Mudiak and the surrounding villages do have comprehensive tourism potential. Aside from the Equator Monument and historical sites, there is also abundant and beautiful natural tourism potential, ranging from waterfalls, rivers and caves to hot springs.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

A number of tourists made a short hike on Pegasingan Hill in Sembalun Village, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, last Sunday (4/9/2022). Its location at the foot of Mount Rinjani, makes Sembalun Village, which since 2016 has become a tourist village.

Before the pandemic, tourist visits to the Equator Monument amounted to around 25,000 people per year. During the pandemic, they fell to only 8,000-10,000 people per year. This year, conditions are starting to improve, as of August, with as many as 12,385 people (Kompas, 9/9/2022).

Sembalun Tourism Village at the foot of Mount Rinjani, East Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara, also presents extraordinary potential. Various tourist attractions in Sembalun, such as trekking and soft trekking, cycling, agro-tourism and paragliding, are promoted and packaged in such a way as to attract tourists.

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> The Dream of Becoming a Tourism Village

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The potential of these tourist villages was disclosed by the Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno. Sandi even predicted that tourist villages will be able to attract more tourist arrivals next year. The increase is about 30 percent from local tourists.

It is normal that Indonesia, which has an abundance of beautiful natural panoramas, historical sites that are rich in stories and meanings and various other tourism potentials, is actively developing tourism as a form of post-pandemic economic recovery.

The concept of sustainable development of tourist destinations should not be forgotten, including tourist villages. The development of tourist destinations should not only be oriented toward the economy, but must also consider ecological aspects.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.