Bappenas Encourages Innovative Economic Transformation Methods in Tourism Villages Through Cemara Biking Fest

TASIKMALAYA – The Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas is implementing inclusive and sustainable development through the Smart, Independent, Prosperous Village program (Desa Cerdas, Mandiri, Sejahtera - Desa Cemara) to address poverty issues and achieve economic transformation. 

"How it works is that we deploy students through the Independent Learning Campus Freedom (Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka - MBKM) program in Desa Cemara at Taraju Village to support the acceleration of economic transformation in Taraju Village," explained the Deputy for Population and Employment of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Maliki, during the Cemara Biking Fest discussion session in Taraju Village, Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Saturday (21/10).

Since 2020, the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas has sought interventions to accelerate poverty reduction across sectors in Taraju Village by collaborating with universities and various partners such as Bank Indonesia’s Tasikmalaya branch, the Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, the West Java and Banten Regional Development Bank, and Shopee Indonesia. The initial phase of this intervention began with socioeconomic registration data and the utilization of data through Digitalization of Village/Urban Monographies (DMD/K).

The implementation of DMD/K is carried out through collaboration with universities and students in the MBKM Desa Cemara program. Concrete intervention efforts include the development of tourist villages, formulation of plans, training and development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (UMKM), including the formation of business groups, legal aspects, and partnership socialization. As a result, Taraju Village has received an award from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, namely the 1st Winner of the Indonesian Village Tourism Award 2023 in the Digital and Creative Village category.

In addition to economic transformation, the tourism village innovation and the Cemara program in Taraju Village will refine the application of the green economic model. "Not only economic transformation but also green economic transformation that applies circular economy principles," explained the Deputy for Maritime and Natural Resource Affairs of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Vivi Yulaswati, during the Cemara Biking Fest in Taraju Village, held as an effort to monitor and consolidate poverty reduction programs at the village level and promote nature, art, and cultural tourism.