The BESTARI Team from Polman Negeri Babel Visited the Bangka Tourism and Culture Office to Discuss Collaboration on the Eco Tourism Smart Hub.
A warm discussion between a team of lecturers from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic and employees of the Bangka Regency Tourism and Culture Office in the living room of the local office, discussed opportunities for collaboration in developing the Eco Tourism Smart Hub program to support the digital transformation of tourist villages in Bangka Belitung.
The Research and Technology Application Based Team (BESTARI) from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) visited the Bangka Regency Tourism and Culture Office (Disparbud) on Monday (November 10, 2025).
The visit was attended by several Polman Babel lecturers, including Firdaus, M.Kom., Muhammad Iqbal, M.Eng., Ilham Nur Dimas Yahya, M.T., Mildazani, M.Ak., Laras Niti Mulyani, M.T.I., as well as PLP Rifki Pramulia Adha, S.TP., and Furqon, A.Md.T.
During the meeting, the Polman Babel lecturers were welcomed by staff from the Bangka Disparbud. This meeting marked the first step in collaboration between vocational academia and the local government to strengthen local tourism potential through research and technology.
BESTARI Team Leader, Firdaus, M.Kom., when met at his office on Tuesday (November 11, 2025), explained that his team is preparing a program titled Eco Tourism Smart Hub, a digital technology-based initiative to encourage the transformation of tourist villages in Bangka Belitung. It will serve as a digital platform that connects tourism potential, MSME products, and community services in an integrated manner. "Furthermore, we also want to strengthen the synergy between the education sector and the local government," he said.
According to Firdaus, the idea arose from the vocational campus's passion for providing solutions for the community through environmentally friendly and sustainable technological innovation. He believes the tourism sector has great potential to become a regional economic driver if managed with a modern approach.
"The Bangka Tourism and Culture Office staff also welcomed this idea very positively. They believe this kind of collaboration could be a concrete step towards elevating tourism villages," he added.
He emphasized that this meeting would not be the last. Polman Babel and the Bangka Tourism and Culture Office agreed to follow up on the discussion results by developing a joint action plan, including training on tourism digitalization and developing applications to support tourism promotion," he explained.
Meanwhile, Agung, an employee of the Bangka Tourism and Culture Office, expressed his appreciation for the initiative of the Polman Babel lecturer team. He stated that the involvement of academics in tourism development is a breath of fresh air for the region, which is currently improving its tourism destination management.
"This program is extraordinary and highly relevant to the current needs of the region. We hope this partnership will continue to be maintained and soon realized in the form of a collaborative partnership," he concluded.
