On 10 March, Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, announced the opening of the 2024 Indonesian Tourism Village Awards (ADWI). This annual event sets out to develop new and sustainable locations around the country, while also recognising achievements in developing the economic and socio-cultural prospects of these so-called tourism villages.
This year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Uno has confirmed that the upcoming festivities will cover more than just awards, with an emphasis on sustainability expected. Through collaboration across sectors and with a focus on green tourism, Indonesia is helping tourism villages fulfil their potential.
“With new spirits and hopes, the 2024 ADWI will go beyond presenting awards,” said the minister in his statement during an event held in Bugisan Tourism Village, Klaten, Central Java, on 9 March. “Through this programme, the government affirms its commitment to providing assistance and establishing collaboration with strategic partners to ensure continued developments in the capacity of villages,” he added.
The tagline of this year’s ADWI – ‘Tourism Villages Towards World-Class Green Tourism’ – is indicative of Indonesia’s mission to promote eco-friendly tourism destinations and activities. This continuous development of sustainable tourism in the archipelago aims to ensure that the travel sector brings economic benefits to rural communities, while also striving to conserve the environment and preserve local culture.
Since its inception in 2021, the ADWI have continued to grow and develop. In the first year, 1,831 tourism villages registered for the awards; this was followed by 3,419 and 4,573 villages in 2022 and 2023, respectively. For the 2024 iteration, a total of 4,812 tourism villages have already registered via the Network of Tourism Villages (Jadesta), with many more expected to join in the months ahead.
As in previous years, ADWI 2024 will involve Minister Uno visiting 50 select tourism villages nationwide to assess their individual merits and assign support where needed, in the form of guidance and assistance from the government. As Uno himself recently said, “the government will provide guidance to as many as 50 best tourism villages to assist them in optimising their potential, strengthening management and ensuring sustainability.”
Like the minister, Panorama Destination is also committed to developing tourism villages around Indonesia, as part of our commitment to responsible tourism. We’re currently working in Sembalun and Bilebante Tourism Villages, in collaboration with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); a social institution from Germany. Together, we’re training new tour guides and developing tourism village products for tourists, while also promoting these villages to international markets. Through the Panorama Foundation, we have also helped to build a new Village Community Centre. You can learn more about our support for tourism villages in Indonesia by reading about our sustainability initiatives.
