Arjasa Tourism Village in Jember is being encouraged to become an economic driver for the local community.

The Ministry of Tourism is supporting Arjasa Tourism Village in Jember Regency, East Java, to continue growing and developing as one of the drivers of community-level local economy. This development is deemed critical as local residents are already directly involved in tourism operations.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa stated that tourism village development is one of the top priority programs of the Ministry of Tourism.

According to her, this approach aligns with the national government's development framework which positions villages as a core pillar for strengthening Indonesia's overall economy.

"Tourism villages are a flagship priority for our ministry, and this initiative falls directly in line with President Prabowo's Asta Cita national vision of building the nation starting from the grassroots village level," stated Ni Luh during her official visit to Arjasa Village, Arjasa District, Jember Regency.

Ni Luh emphasized that tourism village benefits can be felt directly by local communities, as residents do not only act as passive beneficiaries, but also participate as active operators within the sector.

"I witnessed first-hand how people in Arjasa Village are actively engaged in tourism work. They are no longer just bystanders watching outsiders run the sector -- they have become tourism stakeholders themselves. This means livelihood and economic circulation happens directly within the local community," she explained.

Ministry of Tourism Prepares Promotion and Infrastructure Support

Ni Luh confirmed that the central government will continue providing full support to Arjasa Tourism Village, covering both promotional assistance and all required resources to ensure the destination develops sustainably long-term.

One of Arjasa's key strengths is its authentic cultural attractions, which are fully managed by the local Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes). However, there are still gaps requiring improvement, particularly supporting public facilities for the Sendang Tirtha Amertha Rajasa religious tourism site.

"Arjasa Tourism Village is already very well established, with cultural attractions run properly by the village enterprise. That said, we identified facilities that need upgrading, especially amenities for Hindu pilgrims visiting the Sendang Tirtha Amertha Rajasa ritual site," she added.

Ni Luh noted that her office has held official discussions with Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait to map out required infrastructure that will accelerate tourism development in Arjasa Village.

She stressed that destination development cannot be executed by one party alone. Solid collaboration between central government, provincial administration, regency government, local communities and tourism operators is required to ensure development matches the actual needs of the area.

"Growing the tourism sector cannot be done unilaterally. We must build aligned collaboration across central, provincial and regional government levels. The Ministry of Tourism stands ready to support Arjasa Tourism Village development fully tailored to local requirements," she stated.

Jember Aims to Revive Its Economy Through Tourism Villages

Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait welcomed the Deputy Minister's visit, noting it demonstrates solid working synergy between central and regional governments for tourism growth.

According to Fawait, developing official tourism villages is part of the long term strategy to establish Jember as a premier, high-appeal tourist destination at the eastern tip of Java Island.

"We will show that Jember is the most outstanding regency at the eastern end of Java. Once a village is formally designated as an official tourism village, the regional government will develop it into a properly maintained, welcoming tourist destination," he said.

Fawait also clarified that not all villages in Jember will be converted into tourism villages. The regional government will first conduct detailed mapping to identify suitable villages, based on each location's unique natural, cultural and community potential.

This targeted approach allows tourism development to be carried out in a focused, appropriate manner adapted to the strengths of each individual area.

From Religious Pilgrimage Sites to Family Recreation

During her working visit, Ni Luh Puspa began her itinerary at Arjasa Village Hall. She then proceeded to inspect Sendang Tirtha Amertha Rajasa, the long established Hindu religious pilgrimage site.

The official visit continued afterwards to the Citra Mandiri waterpark, another operating tourist attraction located within Arjasa Village.

This series of site inspections highlighted the diverse untapped potential that can be developed in the village, ranging from traditional cultural performances, religious pilgrimage tourism, to modern family recreation facilities.

For the Ministry of Tourism, the true strength of a tourism village does not lie in one single popular attraction. The integrated ecosystem connecting local communities, living culture, attractions, public facilities and local small businesses is the critical factor that ensures tourism benefits are distributed fairly and widely.

With existing active community participation, plus committed support from both central and regional governments, Arjasa Tourism Village holds very strong prospects for continued sustainable growth.

Strengthening public facilities, targeted promotion outreach and cross-stakeholder collaboration will be the key focus areas to ensure tourism activities in this village deliver ever greater positive economic impact for the people of Jember.