TEMPO.CO, Malang - Malang Regency has been developing tourism villages since 2008 and has named eleven tourism villages. Purwodadi Village in Tirtoyudo District and Pujon Kidul Village in Pujon District are currently in development to become tourism villages.

"Our target is to have 13 tourism villages this year. This number is the highest in East Java," said Malang Regency Culture and Tourism Agency chief, Made Arya Wedhantara, Tuesday.

According to Made, the two village candidates have different characters. Purwodadi Village relies on Lenggoksono Beach tourism area that includes coral reefs and waterfall as well as Wedi Awu Cafe and Bolubolu Beach. Lenggoksono Beach is also used for water surfing.

Lenggokosono Beach is promoted by the locals from Bowele (Bolubolu, Wedi Awu and Lenggoksono) community. They also act as tour guides.

Tourism development in Pujon Kidul Village focuses on outdoor adventure with Coban Pitu attraction and farm tours. Pujon is one of the vegetable, fruit and fresh milk production centers. Tourism activities in Pujon Kidul Village involves Capung Alas community, consisting of teens and youths from the village.

Other eleven tourism villages are spread in nine districts: Bayem Village at Kasembon District, Mulyorejo Village at Tumpang District, Sumberngepoh Village at Lawang District, Jeru Village at Tumpang District, Mentaraman Village at Donomulyo Distrcit, Tambakrejo Village at Sumbermanjing Wetan District, Wonosari Village at Wonosari District, Bendosari Village at Pujon District, and Ngadas, Gubugklakah and Poncokusmo Village at Poncokusumo District.

Village tourism development is accompanied by an increase in houses that adopt Malangan design, which has been developed since 2008 and is targeted to be completed in 2014 with 50 houses. Currently, most of the houses are located in Pujon, Poncokusumo, Tumpang and Wonosari.

Bendosari is one of the first villages that pioneered eco-tourism program. Started since 2008, Khoirun and some other residents initially wanted to do activities to conserve water sources, but some residents advised those activities to be turned into outdoor tour "so that Bendosari residents have additional income," Khoirun told Tempo yesterday.

According to Khoirun, the eco-tourism program has resulted in additional water resources. There are currently 54 and 60 big and small water resources, but Songo water source is the most relied on by Bendosari. Khoirun claimed water Songo could be drunk directly and has been tested by Perum Jasa Tirta I laboratory.

ABDI PURMONO