Basic Financial Management Training for Ecotourism Actors in Gunung Leuser National Park, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra
Writer: Putri Widiansyah, Tourism Programme Officer
Editor: Firra Kholisha Mustika, Communication
DESMA Center conducted "Basic Financial Management Training" for tourism businesses and Batu Katak Tourism Board (LPBK). The training was held at Batu Frog Ecotourism, Batujongjong Village, Bahorok District, Langkat Regency on 25-26 April 2022. This activity is part of strengthening the capacity of ecotourism actors in Gunung Leuser National Park, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra.
The basic financial management training was conducted in 2 (two) training sessions covering financial planning; and financial management. In the financial planning session, the training activities began with a pre-test and an introduction to basic financial materials as well as the purpose and objectives of the training. The training participants prepared long-term and short-term plans and then proceeded to prepare a revenue and expenditure budget.
In the second session, participants were introduced to various documentation or proof of transactions commonly used as well as an understanding of the elements of financial use. This session is part of the stages of financial management that are expected to assist village groups in carrying out good financial management practices. The understanding of financial management is enhanced by the last stage of the training, namely financial control, which includes reporting and accountability.
Through this financial management training, the participants, who are Batu Katak Ecotourism tourism business actors, are expected to be able to make and compile a financial budget properly that can be applied in their tourism business, both individually and in groups.
Following up on the activities of assisting tourism groups/villages in financial management, DESMA Center will conduct institutional strengthening including the preparation of members' tasks to identify the roles and responsibilities of related members.
The Basic Financial Management Training is part of the Ecotourism Digitalisation and Capacity Building Project in Gunung Leuser National Park, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, implemented by DESMA Center.
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The development project of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), is co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW. The project also collaborates with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia through Medan Tourism Polytechnic, Generasi Pesona Indonesia as well as members of ASITA North Sumatra.
Tourism is one of the sectors that receives the most significant impact of Covid-19. This is a challenge for tourism industry players to revive and promote post-pandemic tourism that leads to sustainability, nature-based, community-based and prioritises health and hygiene issues. Digitalisation is an effective tool for tourism destinations to encourage more sustainable tourism visits, strengthen destination development and strengthen the quality of tourism products and create significant changes to narrow the gap between tourism businesses in achieving economic opportunities.
The Ecotourism Digitalisation and Capacity Building Programme is aimed at providing solutions to the challenges of market access, connecting attractions and improving quality tourism products in the Gunung Leuser National Park area.
