The creative industry is now the spearhead for a country to increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the future. Indonesia also has the opportunity to increase its GDP by strengthening its creative industry. In Indonesia, many regions have the potential to enhance their creative industries through tourism, but only a few are able to realize this potential effectively. To address this issue, Achmad Ghazali, a lecturer at SBM ITB specializing in People and Knowledge Management, has published a book titled “Knowledge-Based Tourism and MSME Development in the Digital Era.” This book serves as a guide for those interested in developing their tourism initiatives.
According to Ghazali, the main challenge in developing local tourism is not only about infrastructure or promotions, but also about intellectual capacity and the use of technology. This book is presented as a strategic guide so that MSME actors and tourism managers can utilize their local potential more optimally, especially with a knowledge-based approach and digital innovation.
Ghazali stated that this book was inspired by his experiences during community service in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Through this activity, he observed that while the region had potential for development, it was limited by a lack of knowledge. He aimed to address these issues and highlight them in his book.
“The creative industry contributes approximately 9-10% to Indonesia’s GDP, and this figure has the potential to increase,” stated Ghazali on April 23.
He emphasized that collaboration among local stakeholders, academics, and the government is essential to ensure that digital transformation is not merely theoretical but has tangible social and economic benefits for local tourism. The book explores tourism development and discusses how the right mindset can shift a system from passive to active, like harnessing energy to promote advancement and growth in local areas.
This book, with its clear and accessible writing style, serves as a valuable reference for academics, government officials, and the general public. It is especially beneficial for those with creative ideas and a strong passion for advancing sectors like tourism and MSMEs.
Ghazali noted, “Innovation is not just about technology; it’s about effectively and responsively applying local knowledge to create a competitive advantage.”