The deputy minister made the statement while attending the inauguration of 1,061 Red and White Village Cooperatives in Nglawak Village, Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday (May 16).
In a statement received on Sunday, Puspa emphasized that tourism villages hold significant growth potential when supported by strong village cooperatives, as both are rooted in community participation and provide direct economic benefits to local residents.
“This initiative is important for strengthening the village economy, creating business opportunities, and supporting the growth of local MSMEs,” she remarked.
According to Puspa, the synergy between tourism villages and cooperatives can strengthen local economies through community empowerment, infrastructure and facility development, cultural and environmental preservation, job creation, and the promotion of community-based tourism.
Of the 1,061 cooperatives inaugurated by Prabowo Subianto, 30 are linked to tourism villages and have been integrated into the Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Village Network (Jadesta).
To strengthen the village cooperatives, the Ministry of Tourism is also collaborating with the Ministry of Cooperatives.
Under the cooperation, the Ministry of Tourism is providing data and information on tourism potential, particularly regarding tourism villages, local communities, and tourism awareness groups.
The data will serve as the basis for developing cooperative business models tailored to the characteristics and competitive advantages of each region.
The collaboration also includes assistance in developing tourism products managed by cooperatives, covering both tourism experiences and supporting products.
In addition, the initiative seeks to improve supporting facilities to provide cooperatives with a stronger business foundation and support sustainable growth.
The Indonesian government launched the Red and White Village Cooperatives program to establish economic and social service centers in villages, offering services such as savings and loans, as well as health clinics.
Meanwhile, tourism villages are community-managed villages with tourism potential and attractions. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia currently has at least 6,207 tourism villages nationwide.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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