Senyum Untuk Negeri (SUN), in collaboration with PT HM Sampoerna Tbk (HMSP) through the Sampoerna Entrepreneurship Training Center (SETC) under the Sustainability Program “Sampoerna Untuk Indonesia (SUI)”, held a Tourism Village Festival in Sumberjaya Village, Tempuran, Karawang, Tuesday (25/07/2023).

This activity involves all stakeholders in the village and aims to develop the economy in Karawang. Various events were carried out during this festival, from a talk show themed “Pioneering a Tourism Village,” an MSME bazaar, a mango fruit festival, and local art attractions to the Launching of a Tourism Village Pioneering.

Senyum Untuk Negeri (SUN) is an organization engaged in sustainable community empowerment since 2014 and has carried out various programs in various regions throughout Indonesia.

In her remarks, the West Java Tourism and Culture Office, Ani Widiani, welcomed the initiative for this event. He said the West Java Provincial Government is committed to making the tourism sector one of the locomotives for post-pandemic economic recovery.

“We are preparing various strategies in the tourism sector. With the development of tourism in West Java, it is hoped that equality of prosperity will be achieved, especially in Karawang Regency,” said Ani in a press release Wednesday (26/7/2023).

Meanwhile, Regional Assistant 1 Eka Sanatha representing Cellica Nurrachadiana as Regent of Karawang, also appreciated the holding of this activity, especially for Sampoerna’s active role in empowering communities in Karawang Regency.

“The high enthusiasm of the community for traveling is a very good opportunity for industry players to contribute to developing the regional economy and we are very grateful to Sampoerna for having the courage to pioneer the development of a tourism village in Karawang Regency,” said Eka.

On the next occasion, Muh. Nurdin representing The Ministry of Tourism and The Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia stated that “Currently the community’s tourist destination has shifted to alternative tourism. One alternative tour is village tourism. Currently, Sumberjaya Village is just about to start (pilot) and has a lot of potential that needs to be developed to become a Tourism Village.”

On the same occasion, Sampoerna’s Head of External Affairs, Ishak Danuningrat, said that Sampoerna is committed to supporting economic development in Karawang Regency through SETC under the SUI, Sustainability Program. He hopes that this program can take advantage of the local potential in Karawang in developing tourism villages and, at the same time, provide benefits in the form of additional income for the surrounding community.

“Karawang Regency in fact has great potential for the regional economy, especially for developing MSMEs. The role of the community, private sector and government in synergizing to support MSMEs is very important to be able to develop them,” said Ishak.

In addition, this program is also in line with the Three Hands Philosophy that guides Sampoerna, which reflects the company’s commitment to creating added value for all relevant stakeholders, including the wider community, which in this case is carried out through empowering MSMEs and residents of Karawang Regency.

This program runs using a multi-stakeholder approach or by considering the various stakeholders around it in forming a Tourism Awareness Group (POKDARWIS). This program has been going on since January with a series of activities that include the socialization of tourism villages, revitalization of Kebon Jatidipala, rejuvenation of mango trees, planting of mangrove trees, fostering village MSMEs, and distribution of a thousand mango seedlings.

This event was attended by, West Java Tourism and Culture Office, Ani Widiani; Regional Assistant 1 Karawang Regency Eka Sanatha; Representative of the Directorate of Destination Management of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Muh. Nurdin; Tourism academic from the Trisakti Tourism Institute, Michael Khrisna; and Sampoerna’s Head of External Affairs, Ishak Danuningrat. (hmd)