Kampung Susu Lawu in Magetan develops nature-based tourism packages

Kampung Susu Lawu Rural Tourism Village (Dewi KSL), located in Singolangu, Sarangan Village, Plaosan District, Magetan Regency, East Java, is developing nature-based tourism packages to increase visitor arrivals to the region.

Sri Wahyuni, the initiator of Dewi KSL’s tourism package, stated on Sunday in Magetan that the nature-concept tourism package on offer is titled “If I Were a Villager.”

“The ‘If I Were a Villager’ tourism package invites tourists to genuinely experience the daily routines of local residents. Specifically, tourists are invited to engage in traditional dairy milking, provide fresh grass fodder, and harvest vegetables from gardens,” she explained.

According to her, the programme, which has been developed over the past two years, has attracted considerable tourist interest. The tourism package has become a highlight amid the noise of the digital world, bringing tourists to the peaceful and cool natural surroundings on the slopes of Mount Lawu.

Sri Wahyuni explained that the development of the nature-based tourism package emerged from the considerable potential of the cool natural conditions and adequate agricultural and livestock facilities at Kampung Susu Lawu for further development.

“At that time, I thought that with the cool natural conditions and the support of agricultural and livestock facilities, there was hope that Kampung Susu could be enjoyed by the wider community,” she said.

The uniqueness of the tourism package also lies in the direct involvement of the Singolangu community who understand how to realise the Sapta Pesona (Seven Pillars of Tourism) in their area.

“Currently, we have selected and prepared 30 local houses to serve as accommodation for programme participants. We want tourists not merely to ‘pass through’, but to genuinely stay and experience village life,” she said.

With growing interest, the managers of Dewi KSL are working to improve facilities to ensure that educational services and basic tourism comfort in the Kampung Susu area remain well-maintained for daily visitors.

“We have a short-term programme to continue improving existing facilities. For the long term, we plan to build proper home stay accommodation for tourists. This is important so that this promotional facility is commensurate with the quality of visits to Kampung Susu Lawu,” she added.

To date, tourists visiting have come from various cities outside the region, such as Surabaya, Solo, and Jakarta since the programme was launched.

The managers hope that the “If I Were a Villager” tourism package becomes increasingly known to the public, so that more tourists visit, which would ultimately improve the welfare of the local rural tourism community.

Singolangu is known as one of the regional centres of dairy cattle production. Beyond livestock farming, the area has been directed to become a tourism village with the Kampung Susu Lawu icon, employing an eco-educational tourism concept.

Officially opened in late 2020, Kampung Susu Lawu has continued to expand, growing from an initial 100 dairy cattle to now reaching 1,000 head of dairy cattle.

Besides being consumed as fresh milk, approximately 50 per cent of the milked milk is processed into various beverages and food products with diverse flavour variations tailored to market preferences.