UNDIP, Temanggung (18/5) – A community service program conducted together with Universitas Diponegoro alumni under the Enhancing Quality Education for International University Impacts and Recognition (EQUITY) program reached its peak on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Krecek Hamlet, Getas Village, Kaloran District, Temanggung Regency.
Carrying the theme “Strengthening Krecek Hamlet as a Mindfulness Tourism Destination through Capacity Building in Tourism Services and Revitalization of Sanitation Facilities,” the program involved lecturers, alumni, and students from multidisciplinary backgrounds, particularly from the Business Administration and Environmental Engineering programs at Universitas Diponegoro. The initiative was designed to support the development of Krecek Hamlet as a community-based mindfulness tourism destination by strengthening hospitality services, revitalizing sanitation facilities, developing eco-homestays, and providing assistance with sustainable tourism management.
Krecek Hamlet was selected due to its strong potential as a destination rooted in culture, spirituality, and natural tranquility. The hamlet is widely recognized as a Buddhist cultural village, with approximately 60 households practicing Buddhism, creating a distinctive social and religious identity. This uniqueness serves as a strong foundation for developing activities centered on spirituality, tolerance, cultural preservation, and communal life.
Over time, Krecek Hamlet has hosted various activities, including live-in programs, meditation sessions, cultural tourism, and nature-based tranquility tourism. Annual events such as Vesak celebrations, Nyadran Perdamaian, Merti Dusun, and Krecek Mindfulness Weekend regularly attract visitors from diverse regions. Mindfulness and cultural programs take place three to four times each year, attracting approximately 30–100 participants from different religious and cultural backgrounds.
Ardy Wibowo, S.S.T., M.B.A., Ph.D., a lecturer at UNDIP’s Department of Business Administration, stated that the initiative was developed based on Krecek Hamlet’s local strengths, which could be further enhanced through a community-based tourism management approach.
“Krecek Hamlet possesses very strong social, cultural, and spiritual capital. Through this program, we aim to help the community improve tourism service quality without losing the local character that defines Krecek’s identity,” Ardy explained.
The program was initiated by Ardy Wibowo, S.S.T., M.B.A., and Rendy Ega Pradhana, M.A.B., from UNDIP’s Department of Business Administration, together with Dr. Eng. Ir. Bimastyaji Surya Ramadan, S.T., M.T., from the Department of Environmental Engineering. It also involved Arya Pradhana Wirawan, S.T., M.Ling., an UNDIP alumnus and currently Director of PT Kalandra Nusantara and Manusa Foundation.
The program’s multidisciplinary nature became its primary strength. Business Administration contributed to strengthening hospitality and tourism service quality, homestay management, and community-based tourism business systems. At the same time, Environmental Engineering supported the revitalization of sanitation facilities that are cleaner, healthier, and more adequate.
Initial activities began in early April 2026, including field observations, village potential mapping, community needs identification, eco-homestay mentoring, sanitation facility revitalization, and hospitality and community-based tourism management training.
As part of the initiative, the team revitalized sanitation infrastructure by renovating public bathing, washing, and toilet facilities to improve visitor comfort, environmental cleanliness, and overall tourism service quality—especially for guests participating in live-in and meditation programs lasting several days. Two model eco-homestays were also developed to improve community-based accommodations.
Arya Pradhana Wirawan emphasized the importance of sustainability. “Community service should not stop at training or infrastructure improvements. The most important thing is ensuring the community develops systems that can continue independently after the program ends,” he said.
The team also conducted training in hospitality and community-based tourism management. Residents were introduced to the SERVQUAL principles using the RATER framework—Reliability, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy, and Responsiveness. Guidance covered cleanliness standards, guest services, homestay management, communication with visitors, and service evaluation systems.
Ngasiran, a resident involved in mindfulness tourism, welcomed the initiative and highlighted the growing need for service improvements. He believes improving facilities and services is crucial as the number of visitors participating in live-in activities, meditation, and cultural tours continues to grow.
“For us, visitors coming to Krecek are not simply tourists. They come to learn about peace, togetherness, and community life. With improved facilities and more organized services, we hope visitors will feel even more comfortable during their stay,” Ngasiran said.
Students participating in the program also assisted residents in implementing tourism services and mindfulness activities. Their involvement provided hands-on learning experiences in community empowerment, tourism village development, and the application of academic knowledge to address real societal needs.
The program also contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Through the EQUITY UNDIP program, the strengthening of hospitality, sanitation revitalization, eco-homestay development, and tourism management assistance are expected to become foundational pillars for Krecek Hamlet’s growth as a healthy, welcoming, culturally rich, and sustainable mindfulness tourism destination—without losing its local identity. (Public Communication/UNDIP)