- Istimewa
VIVA – The Minister of Economic and Creative Tourism visited the Keris Tourism Villages in Saronggi District, Sumenep Regency, Madura, East Java. Sandiaga Uno revealed that the Keris Tourism Village is one of the unique villages with an authentic Indonesian weapon, namely the Keris.
"Especially in the modern world, this village still utilises activities that have existed for hundreds of years," said Sandiaga Uno based on a written statement received by VIVA on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Sandiaga Uno's visit to the Keris Tourism Village because the Keris Tourism Village is one of the top 50 from the 2022 Indonesian Tourism Village Award.
Sumenep Regency itself has been confirmed as the City of Keris and even the United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated Sumenep Regency as the area for the most keris craftsmen in the world, and most of the keris masters come from Keris Tourism Village or Aeng Tong-tong Village.
In Sumenep, there are 470 to 500 keris masters, the number of which beats Yogyakarta's 15 masters. So, UNESCO recognizes Sumenep Regency with the coronation as the most famous master or known as keris maker in Southeast Asia.
Sandiaga said that in Keris Tourism Village, there is still a traditional Madura Tanean Lanjang house which means a long yard, which is a collection of houses consisting of several families who are still in one family bond.
"People also still preserve their traditional houses," said Sandiaga Uno.
Sandiaga Uno.
- Ist.
Sandiaga also didn't forget to visit Empu Ika. Empu Ika is the only female keris maker in Indonesia.
Empu Ika invited Sandiaga Uno to see the process of making a keris, starting from choosing iron, forging, forming blades, kinatah (carving iron if you carve a keris), Warangka (make a keris sheath made of wood), lastly, shaving or mixing arsenic liquid with water lime that smeared or dipped into the kris.
While at Empu Ika's place, Sandiaga also listened to the story. Empu Ika admitted that it was difficult to market products, especially during the pandemic. Where it is usually smooth to export kris abroad, but during the pandemic everything stopped.
Therefore, Empu Ika asked for help from Minister Sandiaga to promote and introduce keris from her village, especially to Sandiaga Uno’s followers, who are mostly millennials.
"Okay, I will help to promote it, hopefully after being introduced to many millennials who order keris," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Sandiaga Uno also said that he would immediately coordinate the export of keris to foreign countries. Especially from the Keris Tourism Village and several areas in Sumenep Regency, could be distributed to keris lovers around the world.
In holding ADWI 2022, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy also collaborates with strategic partners, namely Astra International for the development of the Keris Tourism Village to generate a sustainable economy.
“Through the Kampung Berseri Astra program, this Keris Tourism Village can become the shoot of Kampung Berseri Astra and expected to become a showcase to ensure that keris are brought abroad to become our leading commodity as souvenirs that will be displayed, one of which is at the G20 event. This is our award for the country of the masters,” concluded Sandiaga Uno.
