UNS — The AIESEC in Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held another Youth Surakarta Forum (FMS) in 2021. FMS is a public discussion room to discuss a topic or specific issue happening in Surakarta directly along with the government and experts.
Taking on the theme entitled “Youth as the Catalysts of New Economic Era in Surakarta.” This year, the FMS discuss the strategies related to the economic recovery during the ongoing pandemic. The selection of theme cannot be separated from the Covid-19 pandemic, which affects many sectors especially the economic sector in its connection to the tourism, SME, and traditional market.
Conducted on Saturday-Sunday, 19—20 June 2021 through the Zoom Clouds Meetings, the FMS invites five speakers. On the first day, the forum focused on the sharing session and exchanges on the related issues, which were divided into three discussion rooms. They are tourism, MSME, and the traditional market.
During the sharing session, Airlangga Putra Aridharma, the Co-Founder and CEO of Visvar Studio and Bukasuara Indonesia, get the opportunity to discuss a topic with the participants. Young and full of achievements, the alumnus of the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering (FT) UNS, is a perfect figure to share insight with the young generation who joined the forum.
Special Interest Tourism: Alternative during Pandemic
An interesting topic was discussed in the Tourism discussion room, with Dr. Deria Adi Wijaya, S.ST.Par., M.Sc., tourism expert and the Head of the Diploma Program in Tourism Business (UPW) UNS Vocational School (SV).
Dr. Deria explains that, according to his observation, the tourism destinations cycles in Surakarta currently entering the stagnancy point and need immediate “rejuvenation.” Especially because of the Covid-19 significant impact on the tourism activities in Surakarta.
“This can be done by performing attractions as a various alternative of new tourism concepts. The youngsters are needed, especially those involved in the tourism sector to explore new things. The role of the young generation can improve the quality of tourist visits in Solo and encouraging innovations,” Dr. Deria explained.
According to Dr. Deria, special interest tourism has become a new tourism concept that is suitable for implementation and has become an alternative. This pandemic, he added, become a transformation encouragement and changing the paradigm from conventional mass tourism to special interest tourism.
There are numerous advantages offered through the concept. First, tourism does not need large visitors’ groups, but small groups to fit the health protocol. Second, tourism travel will be more intense and friendly. Because tourists will need quality of journey and quality of vacation, instead of quantity. Aside from filling their free time, they will get an experience and learning new things.
“(Third), there is a benefit for the tourism service provider. If previously tourism service provider must operate a bus, (using this concept) only need one car with similar monetary value,” Dr. Deria said.
A crucial note for special interest tourism is the requirement to explore the various experiences that can be offered. Again, Dr. Deria stresses the role of young entrepreneurs in this matter.
Dr. Deria further explains the various interesting tourism concept that becomes the potential of Surakarta city. Options such as village exploring, which available thanks to the openness of villages to be a new tourism spot for instance the Baluwarti and Kitiran Village. “There is a walking tour. This option is suitable for Solo. Wandering around the Baluwarti village under this concept and targeting the young generation that loves photography, history, and architecture,” he explains.
Meanwhile, in the UMKM discussion room, there was Guruh Adi Novianto, the Chairman of BPC in the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) Surakarta, who also serves as the Director of Wastu Buana Adhisaka, PT. Adhi Saka Perkasa, and the Founder of Roemah Antik AS, discussing the movement of MSME in Surakarta during the pandemic.
In the Traditional Market discussion room there was Abdullah Mansuri, a humble figure in the Indonesian traditional market and currently is serving as the Chairman of the Indonesian Market Traders Association and market analyst. Humas UNS
Reporter: Kaffa Hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti