Tourism Village Development Must Consistently Preserve the Environment and Local Wisdom – 2024-03-18 04:18:12

A number of residents throw water at each other during the Water War Tradition at the 9th Suwat Water Festival (FAS) in Suwat Village, Gianyar, Bali, Monday (1/1). (ANTARA/NYOMAN HENDRA WIBOWO)

INCREASING the number of tourist villages must have a positive impact on the economic development of the community and the preservation of the rural environment in the country.

“Development of tourist villages to improve the village economy as well as preserve local wisdom and the environment in the village must receive support from all parties,” said MPR Deputy Chair Lestari Moerdijat in a written statement, Sunday (17/3).

Last week, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno launched the 2024 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) as a flagship program.

The participation of villages in Indonesia in ADWI continues to increase. In 2021, 1,831 villages will participate in ADWI. Furthermore, in 2022 there will be 3,419 villages participating in ADWI and last year there were 4,573 villages taking part in the ADWI event. Currently, 4,812 villages are registered in the tourist village network in the country.

According to Lestari, efforts to encourage the utilization of a number of potentials in rural areas are a strategic step as part of the national development process.

Rerie, Lestari’s nickname, assesses that economic growth in rural areas can help accelerate growth and increase the resilience of the national economy.

Also read: Environmental Conservation Efforts Require the Same Understanding of Policy

Based on data from the Developing Village Index (IDM) from the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT), as of 2023, the number of villages in Indonesia with developed status was recorded at 23,030 villages.

Efforts to develop tourist villages, according to Rerie, who is also a member of Commission

However, Rerie also reminded that the principles of sustainability, prioritizing and preserving local wisdom must be the concern of all parties in the rural development process.

The member of the NasDem Party High Council hopes that all parties, stakeholders at the central and regional levels, can continue to build strong collaboration in efforts to create developed and sustainable villages in Indonesia. (Z-6)