The UGM Center for Tourism Studies (Puspar UGM), in collaboration with the Borobudur Authority Implementing Agency (BPOB), continues to develop tourism around Borobudur. They assist special interest tourism and travel patterns in the Gelangprojo area.
The assistance aims to ensure that the management of tourist villages in Gelangprojo (Magelang, Kulon Progo, Purworejo) can package thematic and integrated tourism packages. From the supply side, the Gelangprojo area has a variety of tourist attractions with significant potential for development.
According to Puspar UGM researcher Dr. Destha Titi Raharjana, this potential can be developed with a special interest tourism approach. Undeniably, the Borobudur Temple in Magelang is a magnet that attracts international tourists and needs to be complemented by other tourist attractions.
“Some potential developments include bird watching (green tourism), adventure tourism, wellness tourism, and sport tourism activities. All of these can be further developed in the Menoreh area, considering sustainability and environmental carrying capacity,” he said.
Dr. Raharjana added that the trend/character of tourists, especially those categorized as millennials, are diversely motivated. He believes they prefer traveling individually or in small groups, determining their motivation and travel plans.
“This poses a challenge for managers to be able to package travel patterns. The goal is to ensure tourists stay longer. It is important to remember that tourist villages are not competitors but partners. The concept of collaboration and mutual benefit is essential to prioritize,” he explained.
The special interest tourism and travel pattern assistance activities were held at Glamping, Nglinggo, on Friday (May 3). The assistance involved 16 tourist villages around Magelang, Kulon Progo, and Purworejo (Gelangprojo), with Dr. Destha Titi Raharjana from Puspar UGM as the facilitator.
Meanwhile, the role of the Borobudur Authority Implementing Agency (BPOB) includes encouraging innovation in the development of attractions within the authoritative or coordinative areas, involving all stakeholders, including the communities of the Menoreh Mountains area located near Borobudur Temple and Yogyakarta airport.
Neysa Amelia, Director of Destinations at BPOB, conveyed that one of the development models currently being implemented is community-based tourism (CBT). According to Amelia, tourism development, especially in the Menoreh cluster and its surroundings, is oriented towards sustainable tourism.
There is also a need to promote the development of special interest tourism models to attract niche market segments capable of positively impacting the environment, culture, society, and economy. Therefore, strengthening the variety of attractions with uniqueness, selling points, and thematic elements is crucial.
“The target is for the managers of tourist villages in Gelangprojo (Magelang, Kulon Progo, Purworejo) to be able to package thematic and integrated tourism packages,” she said.
Head of the Amenities and Tourist Attraction Division of BPOB Yulwan added this assistance has agreed to follow up on the assistance to refine the package and travel pattern produced. Continuous assistance is provided to create pilot projects for thematic tourism packages, which industry players will test.
Author: Agung Nugroho