Exploring Coffee Tours Gives Authentication Experience For Tourists

Portrait of coffee tourism in Lumajang (ANTARA)

Coffee tourism is increasingly attracting the attention of tourists who want to experience unique and authentic experiences. Visiting coffee plantations not only provides an opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee directly from the source, but also allows tourists to explore the production process from upstream to downstream.

Starting from getting to know various varieties of coffee, participating in the harvest process, to watching the stages of processing coffee beans, this tour offers an educational and enjoyable experience.

The Ministry of Tourism considers that coffee and agrotourism tourism in Indonesia has great potential in providing authentic and interesting experiences for tourists.

"Coffee tourism attracts travelers who want to be directly involved in various activities, such as exploring coffee plantations, following the harvest process, and studying how to process coffee beans until they are ready to be served," said Deputy for Destination Development and Infrastructure of the Ministry of Tourism, Hariyanto, as quoted by ANTARA.

According to him, local coffee and the agro-tourism sector in Indonesia have a great opportunity to develop, considering that Indonesia is one of the largest coffee producers in the world, parallel to Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia.

Various types of leading coffee in Indonesia have also received protection for geographical indications, which emphasize uniqueness and quality.

Global interest in Indonesian coffee continues to increase, as evidenced by Ryan Wibawa's achievement in winning third place in the World Brewers Cup 2024 event in Chicago, United States. This success is believed to have a positive impact on the economy of the people who depend on the coffee industry.

In addition to offering the experience of enjoying coffee from the source, coffee tourism also introduces culture and uniqueness of each coffee-producing area. Tourists can enjoy beautiful views while tasting typical coffee from various regions.

Coffee plantation tours are one of the favorite activities that allows tourists to understand more about coffee cultivation, as well as enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of plantations. Some plantations even provide the experience of directly harvesting and processing coffee beans.

"Tourists can also learn about the history and characteristics of local coffee through coffee museums available in several areas," added Hariyanto.

Not only that, but tourists also have the opportunity to stay at coffee plantations, especially during the harvest festival, or just relax at traditional coffee shops that present a distinctive taste of the region.

Hariyanto also appreciated the efforts of the West Java Plantation Service in cultivating and introducing excelsa coffee beans to the wider community. According to him, this initiative not only provides direct experience for tourists, but also plays a role in education about the coffee production process from start to finish.

This effort is also considered a strategic step in preserving coffee farming culture and environments that have high historical value.

"Support for coffee farmers and MSMEs can be obtained through various programs from the Ministry of SMEs and the Ministry of Tourism. With cross-sector collaboration, the development of coffee tourism in Indonesia can run more optimally," said Hariyanto.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Tourism is currently promoting coffee tourism as a special interest-based tourist attraction through the concept of traveling "Indonesia Coffee Trail."

This concept is expected to provide a comprehensive experience for tourists, starting from tasting fresh coffee in their place of origin, enjoying the plantation atmosphere, watching the harvest process, to understanding the history and culture of coffee in Indonesia.

"Through the development of structured coffee tourism, economic opportunities for coffee-producing regions can increase. Coffee potential can also be developed in the realm of gastronomi tourism, which is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Tourism," he concluded.