Activities

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenparekraf) in collaboration with the House of Representatives Commission X held a Workshop on Tourism Village Development in Langkat Regency, Besilam Religious Tourism Destination on July 22, 2022; located at Besilam Religious Tourism, Padang Tualang District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.

The workshop, which was attended by around 70 participants representing Pokdarwis, tourism village managers and village officials, was attended by Tuan Syech DR. H. Zikmal Fuad MA, Tuan Guru Besilam Babusalam who gave his speech. Also present to give a speech H. Syah Afandin, SH; Plt. Langkat Regent represented by the Head of the Langkat Regency Tourism and Culture Office Mrs. Nur Elly Heriani Rambe, MM; and Mr. Harwan Ekoncahyo, Director of Destination Development I, Kemenparekraf represented by Area I Coordinator Mr. Ali Nurman. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Ir. Djohar Arifin Husin, Member of the House of Representatives Commission X delivered a keynote presentation on Introduction to Tourism Village Development.

DESMA Center, represented by Founder & Director Mrs. Wiwik Mahdayani, was the key resource person in the workshop. Accompanied by one of the Area I team representatives from Kemenparekraf Mr. Andhy Marpaung as moderator, the presentation delivered related to Tourism Village Governance contains the process of forming Pokdarwis, the process of identifying and developing tourism potential and business development by the community.

In the presentation, the management model currently developed in the Batu Katak Ecotourism Area, Batu Jonjong Village, Langkat Regency was also conveyed by conveying Best Practices in the Management of the ecotourism area. Currently the DESMA Center is assisting the Batu Katak Ecotourism Area and it is hoped that the development and assistance models can be learned by the participants.

Other things that were conveyed were by providing examples of tour packages in the Batu Katak Ecotourism Area; History and struggles as well as treatment patterns in the development of tourist villages and stories of assistance in the development of Batu Katak Tourism Village which were shared with all participants.

The workshop was greeted with enthusiasm by participants who asked many questions related to the management of tourism activities in their village, especially developing with the concept of religious tourism. The workshop ended with a lunch together featuring local culinary specialties that were very extraordinary.