Teachering About Tourism Villages, Pariaman Mayor Signs All Heads Of Sub-districts And Village Heads Meet Ganjar

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo looked wrongly at Lerep Tourism Village, Semarang Regency (Istmewa)

The success of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo in managing and developing tourist villages has attracted the attention of regional heads in Indonesia.

It is not uncommon for regional heads who come to Central Java to learn to manage and develop tourist villages as economic levers for people who have a multiplier effect.

This time, the Mayor of Pariaman, West Sumatra, Genius Umar, came to Central Java to meet Ganjar Pranowo to learn the management and development of tourist villages, Friday, July 14. In fact, Genius invited all sub-districts, village heads and related OPDs in Pariaman to study directly with Ganjar. The total group of Pariaman Mayors is 95 people.

By Ganjar Pranowo, the Mayor of Pariaman and his entourage were invited to directly visit one of the mainstay tourist villages in Central Java. Ganjar took Genius to Lerep Tourism Village, Semarang Regency.

In addition to getting a direct explanation from Ganjar, a group from Pariaman can also enjoy local culinary treats. Among them, sego tonjok, irriban rice, suweg porridge, klotok coffee, dawet ice, to sego irian.

"I received a visit from the Mayor of Pariaman, there is a sub-district head, village head to talk about tourist villages. So, I invite you to this Lerep Village."

"Lerep Tourism Village has been tested, starting from very dry areas, financial assistance used to build reservoirs and utilized for agriculture but also booming tourism, several times became champions," said Ganjar Pranowo.

On that occasion, Ganjar explained the key to his success in building a tourist village in Central Java. First, how the village has the potential and initiative to be developed. Second, the participation of district/city and provincial governments in providing support.

"So the Regent was also present. Then what is the province's role? Because the village heads in Central Java establish communication with us, there will be financial assistance (Bankeu) to the village," he said.

The seriousness of managing and developing the tourist village was shown by Ganjar by making Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 2 of 2019 and Central Java Governor Regulation (Pergub) No. 53 of 2019.

"Especially for tourist villages, we make Perda and Pergub, so that their finances can come in and develop quickly. And the government above it, I too, must be in charge of promoting," he continued.

Ganjar added, until 2023, Central Java has 818 tourist villages that have been running. This number has increased since 2018 as many as 229 villages, 2019 as many as 353 villages, 2020 as many as 633 villages, and 2021 as many as 717 villages.

Ganjar has distributed aid to 631 tourist villages from 2020 to 2023. Financial assistance for development is worth from Rp. 100 million to Rp. 1 billion in each tourist village.

The financial assistance was given to three categories of tourist villages. Namely, a developed tourism village of Rp. 1 billion, a growing tourist village of Rp. 500 million and a pioneering tourist village of Rp. 100 million.

"For Lerep, one of the recipients of the assistance is Rp. 1 billion," he added.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Pariaman, Genius Umar said that Ganjar's success in managing and developing tourist villages was the reason his party wanted to study in Central Java.

"We have several tourist villages, because success is still not maximal so we study here," he explained.

According to him, the presidential candidate from the PDI-P is the right person to be used as a mentor for the progress of tourist villages in his area.

"We want to learn a lot. Which is the system to build a tourist village, build the community of the tourist village community, what the role of the provincial government is, what is the role of the Regency/City Government to support tourist villages."

"So how can tourism villages boost the community's economy. And, we have a lot of that and God willing, we can apply it in Pariaman city," he said.