Indonesian House Pushes Storytelling for Tourism Village Promotion

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission VII is pushing to strengthen storytelling in tourism villages. It also seeks to develop the creative economy as a strategy to boost competitiveness beyond natural scenery and cultural heritage.

“In the future, destination development must be supported by innovation to accommodate the growing number of tourists effectively,” said Deputy Speaker of Commission VII, Chusnunia Chalim, during an official visit to Penglipuran Village, Bangli Regency, Bali, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, as reported by Antara.

Chusnunia emphasized that tourism villages cannot rely solely on natural attractions and cultural heritage. Destinations must also deliver memorable experiences through community-based management, cultural preservation, and compelling narratives.

She urged the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Creative Economy, and other relevant ministries to expand support for tourism villages. This includes developing the creative economy, strengthening promotion, and building human resource capacity to foster more competitive destinations.

Commission VII lawmaker Samuel J.D. Wattimena said Penglipuran’s promotion could be enhanced by providing more comprehensive information. He proposed distributing flyers detailing the village’s history, traditions, and tourist activities to help visitors understand the story behind the destination.

Samuel also suggested developing creative-economy products that embody cultural identity, rather than souvenirs simply labeled “Penglipuran.”

“Storytelling is a key strength that must be developed, because travelers today are not just looking for destinations, but also for experiences and stories they can share,” he said.

He added that Indonesia’s wealth of traditions and local wisdom is a tourism strength that other countries find difficult to replicate. Therefore, similar concepts should be implemented in other tourism villages while maintaining each region’s unique character and potential. ***