Depok-The development of the tourism industry in Indonesia, which had experienced a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, is now starting to stretch. It is evidenced by the increasing number of tourists, both local and foreign, to various tourist attractions in Indonesia.
With the reopening of the tourism sector in Indonesia, the Tourism Study Program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI) again held the Java Overland Tour 2022 which lasted for six days from May 30 to June 4. The Java Overland Tour 2022 is an annual activity carried out by the Tourism Study Program as a form of implementing courses in the form of student field practice.
(Photo: Lecturers and practitioners participating in the Java Overland Tour 2022)
This year, the activity is to visit several cities on the island of Java, namely Surabaya, Probolinggo, Malang, Yogyakarta, and Semarang. Head of Tourism Business Management Study Program, Anisatul Auliya, SST. Par., M.Par., said, along with the recovery of the tourism sector, the tourism industry in Indonesia must immediately innovate tourism products by following the pattern of tourist behavior that has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic. It will have a positive impact on increasing the country’s foreign exchange.
“One of the efforts that need to be prepared to improve the image of tourism in Indonesia is to prepare competent, adaptive and innovative human resources (HR). Thus, educated and professional workers will be able to provide excellent service to tourists. Human resources like this are very much needed to improve the image of Indonesia’s tourism in order to increase the number of tourists, especially in the recovery period from the Covid-19 pandemic, “said Auliya.
Furthermore, Auliya explained, the Java Overland Tour 2022 activity was attended by students of the 2020 UI Vocational Tourism Study Program and accompanied by lecturers, as well as active practitioners who have been certified in the field of tour guidance. This whole series of trips is managed and planned by students, so they can practice the role of a tour planner.
(Photo: UI Vocational Tourism Student acts as tour leader)
“In addition, during the trip, students practice the roles of tour leader, travel writer, and tour guide alternately. This activity is to directly apply the courses that have been obtained, such as Tourism Guide Techniques; Introduction to Tour Operations; Introduction to Tourism; Introduction to Accommodation and Restaurants; and Introduction to Travel Business. Through this activity, we were able to see firsthand the skills of students in preparing themselves to become professional tourism people,” said Auliya.
The Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, was very supportive of this activity. According to him, this activity is in accordance with the implementation of the UI Vocational curriculum which emphasizes more on practice than theory. Thus, making students have adequate abilities to go directly into the industrial world after graduation.
(Photo: Java Overland Tour 2022 at Mount Bromo)
“As a producer of work-ready graduates, we try to provide support to students through various practical lessons that also bring many practitioners in their fields, as well as programs that can improve the quality of students and are ready to face the world of work after graduation,” said Padang.
During the Java Overland Tour 2022, students visited several tourist objects, including the Mount Bromo tourist area, Singasari Temple, Trowulan Museum, Prambanan Temple, Borobudur Temple, Sam Poo Kong, and sightseeing in several tourist areas in Surabaya, such as Suro and Boyo Statue, Bungul Park, Surabaya Submarine Monument, Red Bridge, Suramadu Bridge, and in the Lawang Sewu area, Semarang.
