The Depok-Java Bali Overland Tour is again being held by the Tourism Business Management study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI). The program is carried out by class of 2021 students and all permanent lecturers in Tourism Business Management. The activity which was carried out from May 27 to June 2, 2023 was a field practice to strengthen student competence from the elaboration of several courses, namely Introduction to Tourism; Introduction to Tourism Travel Business; Accommodation and Restaurant; Tour Guide; Tourism Travel Operations Planning; and Risk Management and Digitalization of Tourism.
During the activity, students act as tour guide, tour leader, tour operator, and analyze risks during the trip, and evaluate the implementation of digitization in the tourist objects visited. This time’s travel route is Jakarta-Probolinggo-Bali-Yogyakarta and visits various leading tourist objects from each of these cities.
(Photo: Tourism Business Management Student as a tour guide at the Java Bali Overland Tour 2023)
Anisatul Auliya, S.ST.Par., M.Par., Head of the Tourism Business Management Study Program, said that the Java Bali Overland Tour activity is carried out every year to develop students’ abilities before going into the industry. She said, “As a vocational education, we strive to maximally strengthen practical competence for students. The existence of the Java Bali Overland Tour will train them in real terms to play a role as practitioners in the field of tourism.”
The cross-island trip is managed by students as leader and crew. The crew on duty are travel writer, medical officer, luggage officer, and documentation. During the trip, students also gain various experiences in providing the best service to guests. The entire crew on duty needs to ensure that tour activities go to various areas, such as the Mount Bromo Tourism Area; Kuta City Tour; Kintamani-Ubud City Tour; Yogyakarta City Tour; Borobudur temple; and Prambanan Temple, went smoothly and in accordance with the planned program.
(Photo: One of the practices of being a tour guide in the Java Bali Overland Tour 2023)
UI Vocational Education Program Director, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, welcomed the Java Bali Overland Tour activity. According to him, the program is essential in the student learning process to strengthen competence. “The existence of this program can be a portfolio for students to obtain tour guide certification which we provide free of charge at the end of lectures through the UI Professional Certification Institute. This certification can be used as provision for students when they are about to enter the industrial world,” said Padang.
