Minister Encourages Tourism Villages and Thematic Villages to Boost Economy in East Nusa Tenggara
The village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) visited by Yandri manage several tourist destinations such as Oesina Beach, Salupu Beach, Eno Kono Beach, Tuadale Freshwater Pond, and Bat Cave. These BUMDes also manage livestock, fisheries, rental services, and agriculture.
Yandri praised the tourism potential managed by BUMDes Damai Lifuleo, noting its beautiful location and supporting infrastructure that will help and make tourists comfortable when visiting these tourist destinations.
“I saw earlier that there is a Culinary Center, Gazebo, and Eco-Tourism Information Center that will help tourists get information about Oesina Beach,” said Yandri in a statement on Friday (May 15, 2026).
However, the former Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI hopes that the managers of this Tourism BUMDes continue to innovate and improve by adding infrastructure to make tourists interested in returning to Oesina Beach.
Yandri said that promoting tourism villages through various channels, both online and offline. Effective promotion attracts more tourists and increases village income.
“The involvement of villagers includes tour guides, souvenir craftsmen, and artists. This empowerment has a direct economic impact on the community and improves the welfare of the villagers,” said Yandri.
Furthermore, Yandri also visited the location of the construction of the Red and White Village Cooperative outlet in Lifuleo Village. This is also to monitor the latest developments in the construction of the priority program of the Prabowo Subianto administration.
Yandri said that villages are now an object of development, as evidenced by the village being included in the 6th Asta Cita, namely Building from the Village and from Below for Economic Equity and Poverty Reduction.
In addition, the government’s priority program also targets villages, such as the Red and White Village Cooperative, which will later have seven outlets or business units, namely pharmacies, clinics, savings and loan business units, cooperative offices, procurement of basic necessities, warehousing or cold storage, and logistics.
“Let’s make this Red and White Village Cooperative a success because it will increase economic activity in villages throughout Indonesia and have an impact on increasing the welfare of village communities,” said Yandri.
In addition to the KDMP, there is also the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. This program is not only for providing nutritious food for children but can also drive the economic wheels of the village community.
One way for villagers to take part in the success of this MBG is by creating Thematic Villages such as Layer Chicken Villages, Meat Villages, Tilapia Villages, and Tomato Villages by adjusting to the potential of the village.
“The demand for raw materials for the MBG program is very high. For example, 80 million eggs are needed per day, so the results of the village’s production will later be collected by the BUMDes, which will then be distributed to the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Center (SPPG),” said the former Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII.
In addition to the needs of the MBG, this Thematic Village will also encourage food security for Indonesia.
For information, Yandri was accompanied on the working visit by the Assistant III of the NTT Provincial Government, Yohannes Oktovianus, the Head of the NTT PMD Office, Alexander Koroh, the Regional Secretary of Kupang Regency, Mateldius Sanam, the Head of the Kupang Regency PMD Office, Jon Sula, the Head of West Kupang District, Villy Nakamnanuk, the Kupang Regency Forkompimda and the Head of Lifuleo Village, Swingly Say.
Furthermore, Yandri was also accompanied by the Director General of Village Economy and Investment Development, Tabrani, the NTT Province Coordinator, Zainul Arifin, and Village Assistants. (prf/ega)