Kartini Bangun Negeri (KABARI) : Community Engagement Program In Strengthening Inclusive Tourism Ecosystems In Heritage City Of Lasem, Central Java

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate how the Kartini Bangun Negeri Program (KABARI) as a SocioCreative Entrepreneur Batik-based Community Engagement Program strengthens the inclusive tourism ecosystem in Lasem Heritage City.

Methodology/approach: The research utilized a mixed-method approach, involving surveys and case studies with 119 respondents, including young batik makers, women in the Creative Economy, and fashion/craft designers. Structured interviews were conducted with the management of the Lasem Heritage Foundation and the Head of the Bank Indonesia Central Java Representative Office, while FGD included representatives from various local communities and craft activists.

Results/findings: Community Engagement serves as the driving force behind the strengthening of an inclusive tourism ecosystem, particularly in cultural tourism of Batik in Lasem. Through Kartini Bangun Negeri (KABARI), community engagement intertwines as an immunity booster post-Covid-19 along with the other 4 Cs: Culture, Creative Ideas, Collaboration, and Circular Economy. By emphasizing the Nusantara textile culture, the KABARI program assists the community in creating creative social entrepreneurship for the process of producing outstanding creative products until monetization, aiming to preserve cultural heritage, the environment, and provide hope for the creative community in Lasem Heritage City.

Limitations: As a multi-year program, further research is needed to determine the effectiveness and potential sustainability of the KABARI program.

Contribution: Providing empirical evidence of the impact of community engagement on cultural tourism and how community engagement can be leveraged as a driving force behind the development and preservation of cultural heritage, the environment, and the creative community.

Novelty: By employing a mixed-method approach, this study offers a comprehensive understanding on how community engagem[1]ent can serve as an immunity booster, fostering resilience and sustainability in the tourism sector.