Belitung's Bukit Peramun Targets Malaysian and Singaporean Tourists with Community-Based Ecotourism

Belitung Island has long been synonymous with the beauty of its beach tourism. However, the community group HKm Arsel in Bukit Peramun Village is attempting to break this stigma by offering an alternative: community-based digital forest ecotourism. The efforts of local residents to preserve and package the forest’s potential are now beginning to attract international attention. Through a familiarisation trip initiated by Bakti BCA in collaboration with the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (Astindo), a number of tourism industry players from Singapore and Malaysia were brought to see the uniqueness of Bukit Peramun firsthand on Sunday (31/5/2026). This step is designed to open the tap for foreign tourist visits even wider. According to management data, the trend of foreign travellers to this hill has continued to climb, from 387 people in 2023 to 485 people in 2025. Meanwhile, domestic tourist visits also jumped from 1,356 people in 2024 to 1,648 people last year. BCA EVP Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility, Hera F. Haryn, explained that this collaboration deliberately brings village managers face-to-face with overseas travel agents. The main target is to introduce the uniqueness of Bukit Peramun, which has successfully combined natural beauty with a touch of digital technology. “We believe this village has high potential in the international market if supported by proper access and promotion,” said Hera. She added that the programme not only aims to boost foreign tourist numbers but also to provide a real economic impact for local residents without neglecting environmental conservation aspects. During the visit, tourism players from neighbouring countries were invited to experience the forest firsthand through trekking paths, get to know endemic herbal plants, and take concrete action in the form of tree adoption. Another unique feature showcased was the digital application Virtual Assistance & Kenali Pohon (KePo), a local innovation that helps travellers identify flora species via their devices. The travel agents’ adventure concluded with enjoying the sunset panorama from the hilltop at Batu Kembar and Batu Ampar, whilst sampling local cuisine through the Makan Bedulang tradition. When night fell, they were also invited to observe the tarsius, an endemic miniature animal that has become the icon of Belitung ecotourism. Through this direct experience, tourism industry players from Malaysia and Singapore are expected to be able to develop attractive tour packages for tourists in their countries, whilst simultaneously strengthening Bukit Peramun’s position as a premier ecotourism destination on the global stage.