Bobobox Enriches Tourism Potential Through Collaboration With Local Community

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The presence of the Bobobox accommodation startup through a Bobocabin natural-concepted room is considered to have had a positive impact on enriching tourism potential through sustainable collaboration with local communities and talents.

At Orhid Forest Cikole, for example, prior to Bobocabin's presence, the number of annual visitors was at 1,637 in 2020, but after the presence of Bobobox accommodation, travelers who came to this tourist attraction reached 9.7 times more in 2021 and 11.5 times in 2022.

This is among them revealed in the Impact Report Bobobox for the period 2022: Travel With a Purpose: Our Story Forwards Impactful Experience which was released recently.

"Along with the company's growth, we realize that the impact of Bobobox is more than just providing comfortable rest facilities for consumers. Bobobox also has a responsibility to make a positive contribution to the community around our accommodation location," said Bobobox Co-Founder & CEO Indra Gunawan in his official statement, quoted from Antara, Saturday 22 July.

Through this impact report, said Indra, Bobobox wants to share Bobobox's journey in realizing its sustainability commitment, as well as initiatives that have been implemented to have a wider impact on consumers, employees, investors, and the surrounding community.

Offering unique accommodation that blends with natural beauty, this potential is further developed by Bobocabin. Not only introducing new tourism points in Indonesia, but Bobocabin also has the mission to have a more comprehensive impact on the surrounding community through partnerships with local MSMEs and recruiting local talents.

To build a tourism ecosystem that is able to have a wider positive impact, Bobocabin was built with a unique business model, one of which is by not building commercial kitchens in accommodation as well as in general hotels.

Thus, Bobocabin took advantage of cooperation with local businesses to provide food, drinks and activities that can be enjoyed by tourists who stay overnight. Those who are members of this initiative are subsequently referred to as MitraBob.

Dewi, one of Bob's Partners at Bobocabin Padusan, Mojokerto, said that after partnering with Bobocabin, her income increased 50 percent from before. "I was also given the opportunity to join various training and business development programs."

Through this initiative, Bobocabin was not only able to contribute to the increase in MitraBob turnover but also allowed local MSMEs to access the resources needed to increase their business capacity and capabilities.

The collaboration carried out by Bobocabin is also implemented through the absorption of local talents at each Bobocabin operational location. There are several other inspiring stories from MitraBob and the Bobocabin staff branch about the significance of Bobocabin's presence which is able to help improve the economy of the family and the surrounding community.

To date, Bobobox has more than 1,262 rooms spread across 28 locations in Indonesia ranging from Sumatra, Java, Bali to Nusa Tenggara. With a consistent average occupancy rate of 90 percent.

Bobobox is not only focused on providing pocket-friendly accommodation, but is also able to promote sustainability practices. Therefore, this impact report summarizes Bobobox's journey to revolutionize the hotel industry through the products and technological initiatives presented.