Purwokerto’s Jenderal Sudirman University tourism expert Chusmeru has asked regional governments to develop tourism villages to fuel economic recovery in rural areas amid the pandemic.
“Tourism village is expected to rise as an alternative for tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even beyond the pandemic era,” Chusmeru said in Purwokerto, Banyumas District on Tuesday.
In the pandemic era, tourists are inclined to seek safe, healthy, and comfortable tourism attractions where they can enjoy the beautiful scenery as an alternative to urban attractions, he remarked.
Several regional governments have initiated tourism village development in their regions, including one tourism village in Banyumas district, Central Java.
“For instance, the Banyumas district authority has developed several tourism villages in the region, and Melung village in Kedungbanteng subdistrict has been designated as a tourism village,” the expert informed.
He reminded tourism village operators to be attentive to health protocols while developing tourism villages and ensure the premise’s safety for visitors. He also asked them to ensure such villages do not emerge as COVID-19 infection clusters.
“A proper health protocol enforcement must be studied by tourism village operators while developing recreational attractions in the village, for instance, by preparing children’s swings, swimming pools, and photo spots that would be attractive for tourists,” Chusmeru elaborated.
Tourism villages will benefit the village economy as village authorities, village enterprises, and local residents are involved in tourism village operations, the expert said.
“Hence, tourism villages will be a stimulus for village economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Chusmeru added.
Besides following the health protocols and developing attractive recreations, the local authority should also ensure easy access to the village by improving road access, he noted.
“Ease of access is essential to attract more tourists to tourism villages,” Chusmeru said.
Source: Antara News