Educational Tourism Design, Wamenpar: For The Sake Of Creating A Safe, Inclusive Ecosystem, And Positive Impact

The Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) is in the process of drafting regulations that regulate the implementation of educational tourism in order to create a safe, inclusive, and positive ecosystem.

Wamenpar Ni Luh Puspa in the Discussion of Ngobrolin Tourism and Creative Economy) with the theme Prohibited or Regulated? Looking for a Meeting Point Between Study Tours and the Future of Tourism' initiated by the Tourism and Creative Economy Journalists Forum (Forwaparekraf) at Balairung Soesilo Soedarman, Sapta Pesona Building, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (14/5/2025) said the Government is in the process of drafting educational tourism guidelines that focus on student safety, readiness of destinations, and learning values.

"Education tourism needs to be designed carefully, but don't let children lose the opportunity to learn directly from the environment," said Ni Luh.

According to him, the government's main focus is not on the prohibition, but on efforts to create guidelines that ensure the safety and benefits of educational tourism.

"It's not about generating tourism numbers, but how this activity provides real benefits for our brothers and sisters. We want a long-term solution, not just to extinguish the polemic for a moment," he said.

On the same occasion, the Deputy for Industry and Investment at the Ministry of Tourism, Rizki Handayani, added that this regulation needed to be presented because previously there had been no regulation governing education tourism. The presence of this regulation will be a breath of fresh air for the implementation of study tours or educational tourism for school students.

"This can be a blessing in disguise. Discussions like this are important so that we are not trapped in the prohibition, but discuss the model of organizing responsible educational tourism," said Rizki.

The same thing was conveyed by the President Director of TMII (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah), Intan Ayu Kartika, who saw the need for regulation and national standards to ensure the study tour was safe and meaningful.

"Children need a learning room outside the classroom to shape character. But of course there must be rules that regulate the number of companions, curation of materials, to transportation," said Intan.

Intan said that TMII itself has been one of the main destinations for educational tourism in Indonesia. Intan emphasized the importance of introducing culture and diversity from an early age.

TMII offers a rich Indonesian cultural learning experience. This is where children can get to know their Indonesian roots," he said.

Then, the P2G National Coordinator (Education and Teacher Association), Satriawan Salim, considered that the ban on total study tours could actually eliminate the potential for contextual learning.

What should be avoided is a tour without a study. We need standardization, from the proportion of supervisors, security, to the substance of education," said Satriawan.

The discussion was also attended by Managing Director Adonta Education, Donny D; Nglangeran tourist village driver, Sugeng Handoko; and Head of the General Subdivision and Personnel of the Banten Province Education Office, Herdi Herdiansyah.