Menparekraf Sandiaga: The 2023 KEN Program Encourages The Regional Economy

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno launched the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2023 program at the Keong Mas Theater, TMII. (Photo: Doc. Kemenparekraf)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno launched the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2023 program at the Keong Mas Theater, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, on Saturday, January 28.

The launch of this activity is an effort to stimulate the economy by presenting quality regional events.

Sandiaga said, according to President Joko Widodo's direction, the holding of the event could be a locomotive or driver of the regional economy, as well as a revival of Indonesian tourism.

"KEN 2023 is able to encourage regional revival. I see every event from Sabang to Merauke, all are able to move the regional economy, from culture, sports, to events related to festivals. We can also see the key to economic revival if these events are carried out more quality," he said in a written statement, quoted Monday, January 30.

Titled Karisma Event Nusantara Festival, the launch of KEN 2023 presents a festival that can be visited by people at Plaza Cong Mas.

There are six interactive activation areas, which are the result of collaboration with regions, associations, and communities that will provide memorable experiences to visitors through artistic installations, art galleries and photos 110 KEN 2023, arts and cultural performances, experience mini events, craft workshops and cooking demonstrations, recycled works, MSME product exhibitions (Boga, Craft, Wastra), as well as various event organizing inspirations in various other areas.

The 2023 KEN Festival was also enlivened by a number of performers, ranging from art activists to music artists from their respective regions, including the Aceh Culinary Festival, Banjarmasin Sasirangan Festival, Bogor Street Festival/Cap Go Meh, Babukung Festival, Bunga and Fruit Festival, Pacu Line Festival, Rujak Uleg Festival, Uleg Festival, Ulos & Fashion Weaving Festival, Jember Fashion Carnaval, Jogja Violin Fest, Musik Alam Fest, Samosir Music International, and Tomohon International Flower Festival.

Sandiaga said that the implementation of regional events was also felt by MSMEs.

Last year, through the KEN program, it was recorded that regional events had an impact on more than 3,000,000 tourist movements by involving around 11,000 MSMEs.

In its implementation, KEN also opens job provision and absorbs 55,000 art/event actors, 11,000 workers, and 250 associations/communities.

Collaboration and resilience that should be appreciated by the central, regional governments, associations, communities, and other event industry stakeholders.

"Therefore, I invite associations to pick up the ball, come to regions, districts, cities, and provinces to offer quality events. If these events can be done, don't do everything at the end of the year, but at the beginning of the year, because by moving at the beginning of this year, we will see a better impact," explained Sandiaga.

In its third year, Karisma Event Nusantara again summarized 110 flagship events that have been curated from 291 proposed events of the Provincial Tourism Office throughout Indonesia.

The 2023 KEN curation process has been carried out since November-December 2022 through three main stages, namely administrative selection, concepts, and interviews.

Unlike the previous year, the curation of the 2023 KEN is based on five areas of assessment, including tourism and creative economy, the field of innovation and creativity, the field of event management, the field of communication strategies, as well as the field of business and marketing development.

The curators of KEN 2023 include Bagus Utama (Loket.com), Icu Surtini Marwati (Traveloka), Galih Sedayu (ICCN), Renitasari Adrian (Djarum Bhakti Foundation), Debora Sharon (Backstager), Vera Damayanti (Ve Education), Dewi Ghonta (Java Festival Production), and Yoris Sebastian (OMG Consultant).

Then, representatives of associations and industry, including General Chair IVENDO Mulkan Kamaludin, General Chairperson of Backstagers Sofyan Nasution, General Chairperson of KORMINAS Hayono Isman, and KOI Chairman Raja Sapta Oktahari.