The Special Region of Yogyakarta is one of the most popular tourist destinations, attracting more visitors than Bali, Lombok, and other regions. To boost its appeal to tourists, Yogyakarta has established 25 tourism villages, which are expected to offer alternative destinations for visitors to enjoy culture-based tourism.
Dr. Destha Titi Raharjana, a researcher at the UGM Center for Tourism Studies (Puspar), stated that the Terban area has the potential to develop a culture-based tourism village.
He believes that Cik Di Tiro Street, connected to the Kota Baru area, could serve as an interesting storyline for a tourism package.
“By exploring the historical potential, we can create opportunities and add value to tourism,” he said in a statement sent to journalists on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.
Dr. Raharjana is optimistic about Terban’s development as a historical tourism area, especially after its designation as a Cultural Village, which could strengthen the area’s cultural identity.
He mentioned that Terban still preserves various cultural traditions, such as Ruwahan, Rejeban, Saparan, and Merti Belik, all of which should be identified and packaged as cultural products for Terban event calendars.
Husni Eko Prabowo, Head of the Tourism Resource Development Department at Yogyakarta City Government, said his office is supporting the development of tourism resources in Terban.
There is currently only one tourism village in Baciro in the Gondokusuman District. He is committed to facilitating public ideas for tourism development.
“Our priority is adding more tourism villages and strengthening local commitment. After the village is established, what happens next? We know Terban already has a tourism awareness group (pokdarwis). Let’s work with pokdarwis to encourage the development of local champions to seriously promote Terban as a tourism village,” he explained.
Diandra, a UGM Community Service Unit YO-175 team member, is leading a program called ‘Terban Sadar Wisata: Independent Tourism Development for the Village.’
She explained that the team is working to support the development of tourism based on the creative economy.
“Terban has various historical potentials that should be explored and introduced to the current generation,” she said.
To boost tourism development, Diandra mentioned that the KKN students successfully compiled a tourism profile book to serve as a reference for developing tourism potential.
“We hope that what we’ve done can serve as a foundation for further tourism development in Terban, including strengthening the collaborative institutions already in place,” she added.
Diandra hopes that the programs executed by the KKN students will continue through community initiatives and be further developed by future KKN teams.
Terban Village Head, Sigit Kusuma Atmaja, highlighted several historical buildings in Terban.
According to him, these buildings have interesting historical stories.
One example is the Police Post Office located north of Gramedia, which was once the headquarters of the Indonesian Army.
“This former Haji Salim’s house is now a Bumbu Desa restaurant,” he explained.
He mentioned that he had received a visit from the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff (KSAL), who was interested in the Navy’s history.
According to some sources, the Navy’s headquarters was once located in Terban.
The Galuh Hotel, located east of SMA 9, was a Navy hospital.
In 2024, Bappenas also conducted similar research, sending a team to study the origins of the National Economic Council.
“The Panti Rekso Putro building was once considered the birthplace of Bappenas. Dr. Yap’s eye hospital was one of the most advanced eye hospitals and a reference for eye treatment from various regions, including overseas,” Atmaja said.
He added that the people of Terban have mapped out various strategic plans for developing tourism in the area, including educational-based tourism that showcases Terban’s rich historical heritage and digital promotion of culinary tourism.
“We have a lot of potential. Not only for developing tourist attractions, but Terban also has many young people who have had the opportunity to intern in hospitality, which helps improve skills within the community,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang