Quadruple Helix Concept for the Development of Thematic Tourism Villages in West Bandung Regency

Collaboration and innovation in the development of this digital era creates change and creates its own challenges for life. Collaboration is able to encourage innovation for creative citizens so as to increase economic growth. To encourage the growth of innovation, collaboration between academia, government, companies and civil society is needed, known as the Quadruple Helix concept.

This time, a collaboration between Bappelitbangda, the Center for Tourism Planning and Development (P-P2Par) Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the community and companies (tourist companies/travel agents), has implemented the Quadruple Helix concept in Mekarwangi Village, West Bandung Regency.

Quoted from bandungkita.id, the Head of Bappelitbangda KBB, Asep Wahyu FS, said that his party was collaborating with ITB by carrying out activities for the preparation of the development of Mekarwangi Village, Sindangkerta District as a Thematic Tourism Village.

"One of the goals is to encourage people to innovate in developing tourist villages so that economic growth will be created," said Asep Wahyu to BandungKita.id, Saturday (19/6/2021).

There are many advantages of the village, which can be a tourist attraction. Based on the identification of P-P2Par ITB, the potential of Mekarwangi Village is not only at the West Java level, but can be national, even at the international level.

According to Asep Wahyu, the collaboration that has been initiated since 2019, he said, has now identified several positive results, including the identification of the advantages of Mekarwangi Village for the scale of West Java, Indonesia, and even internationally which can be appointed as a tourist village theme. It is not without reason that Mekarwangi Village was chosen for the quadruple helix cooperation program. According to him, Mekarwangi Sindangkerta Village has potential natural resources and cultural potential that can be developed as a tourist attraction.

One of its potentials, Mekarwangi Village coffee has proven to be able to compete with other superior coffees in the world. In 2016, this Arabica coffee won the international championship “Specialty Coffee Association of America Expo 2016” in Atlanta, Georgia, United States as the 2nd winner.

In addition to coffee, there are several excellent potentials for Mekar Wangi Village to become a Thematic Tourism Village, including:
- The First Tea Processing House in West Bandung Regency
- Mekarwangi Vegetable Products Main Supplier of Vegetables to West Java and Banten
- Apis Cerana Forest Honey Bee Cultivation
- Honey bee processing which is the advantage of Mekarwangi Village

To strengthen the preparation of tourism products (educational and culinary tour packages), Bappelitbangda held training with resource persons from P-P2Par Bandung Institute of Technology and Bandung Tourism College (STP) where participants were representatives of the Mekarwangi Village community who played an active role in the development of thematic tourism villages.

"With the addition of attractive tourism products and thematic tour packages, it is hoped that later travel companies/tour agents can bring tourists to visit Mekarwangi," said Asep Wahyu during an interview with BandungKita.id.

editor: Ali Hasan Asyari