Depok-The development of the tourism industry is always changing according to the times. The tourism sector is also still one of the spearheads of the country’s foreign exchange, which means it must always be able to adapt to market demand. This adaptation, especially in the field of cultural products, can be done by carrying out various innovations that require high creativity and are accompanied by cultural understanding, so that various cultural products are created that are not outdated. In order to deepen this understanding and as part of the implementation of vocational learning methods that prioritize practice, the Tourism Business Management study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), visited the Inacraft on October Vol. 3 exhibition on October 5, 2024 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan.
A total of 120 students made the visit as a form of collaboration between courses, namely Creativity and Innovation, Manifestation of Indonesian Cultural Diversity, and Introduction to Tourism. The field visit aims to directly show the development of the world of tourism, including creativity and innovation in cultural products which are the core of the Inacraft on October exhibition which contains various crafts as a cultural product. Inacraft is the largest and most complete handicraft exhibition in Southeast Asia which presents various handicrafts and other creative industry products. Inacraft on October Vol. 3 2024 specifically carries the theme “Youthpreneurs, Make It At Market” with the tagline “Totally Different”.
The visit was accompanied by lecturers from the Tourism Business Management study program, Mahadewi, S.Sos., M.M. and Febrian, M.Si. On that occasion, the General Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Handicraft Exporters and Producers (ASEPHI), Dr. Muchsin Ridjan, who was present to welcome UI Vocational students and lecturers, explained that ASEPHI is committed to always bridging the transformation and generational shift in the craft world by providing opportunities for the younger generation to work in the craft and arts and culture world. Especially for young entrepreneurs in the creative industry for the sake of the sustainability of traditions and culture in the Indonesian craft industry.
(Photo: ASEPHI General Chairman, Dr. Muchsin Ridjan, while introducing handicraft culture to the audience)
Furthermore, Muchamad Ali Jufry, Deputy Chairman of ASEPHI for Creative Industry, Information Technology and Promotion, on the same occasion gave direction that creative and craft business actors must be able to adapt various Indonesian tourism products by utilizing the very rich diversity of Indonesian culture. “Recognizing culture and developing various cultural products is a competitiveness that must be possessed by the young generation and youthpreneurs, especially in the tourism sector as part of preserving Indonesian traditions and culture and introducing them to the world,” said Ali.
In addition, students also held discussions with representatives of ASEPHI and Mediatama Event regarding the implementation of the event while also seeing firsthand various forms of innovation by the young generation in the world of crafts and handicrafts that utilize the richness of Indonesia’s cultural diversity as products that attract tourists, both foreign and domestic.
Head of the Tourism Business Management Study Program, Anisatul Auliya, SST.Par., M.Par., said that the visit to the industry is part of a series of learning in the Tourism Business Management study program and is expected to broaden students’ horizons, especially to see firsthand the development of the tourism industry as part of tourism business management in Indonesia. “Through this visit, students will be widely exposed to the diversity of craft cultures from all over Indonesia. In addition, learning about event management can also be adapted from the organization of this Inacraft event,” concluded Auliya.
