From a Small Village in Borobudur to the World Stage, PGN Green Energy Tourism Gains European Attention

The morning air in Karangrejo Village, Magelang, feels cool amidst the expansive green rice fields surrounding the PGN Karangrejo Village Economic Center (Balkondes). In the distance, rows of traditional-style homestays stand alongside solar panels glistening under the sunlight. 

Who would have thought that this small village near the Borobudur Temple area is now capturing the world's attention, even reaching the European tourism market.

Through the Discovering the Magnificence of Indonesia (DMI) Expo 2025 in Utrecht, Netherlands, PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) introduced the Karangrejo Balkondes Self-Reliant Energy Village (Desa Energi Berdikari - DEB) as a tangible example of the synergy between environmentally friendly energy and sustainable tourism.

"This step is part of PGN's commitment to supporting the government's Super Priority Destination (DSP) ecosystem, particularly in the Borobudur area, Central Java," said Krisdyan Widagdo Adhi, Division Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at PT PGN Tbk, in a statement from Jakarta on Saturday.

From Simple Homestay to Self-Sustaining Ecotourism

The journey of Karangrejo Balkondes began as a simple homestay that has now evolved into an integrated tourism ecosystem. This area offers not only comfortable accommodation but also authentic experiences of village life and the natural beauty of the Borobudur countryside.

PGN also introduced clean energy innovations in the form of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cluster to meet the energy needs of approximately 150 households, along with solar panels supplying part of the area's electricity. This combination makes Karangrejo a Self-Reliant Energy Village, a tourism concept integrating environmental sustainability with economic independence.

Unsurprisingly, in 2024, PGN Karangrejo Balkondes recorded revenue reaching Rp3.6 billion, with 80 percent local workers trained to manage homestays, restaurants, and various tour packages such as VW Safari tours, cycling, rafting, and agricultural education tourism.

Cultivating the Spirit of Mutual Cooperation

Beyond the figures, this success brings profound social change for the residents.

"The most valuable outcome is not merely the increase in revenue, but the emergence of community independence and the spirit of mutual cooperation ('gotong royong'). They now realize that village potential can become a source of prosperity without harming the environment," said Krisdyan.

Income from tourism activities is returned to the village through Village Original Revenue (Pendapatan Asli Desa - PADes), which is then used to support residents' education, healthcare, and micro-business development.

Attracting European Travel Agents

PGN's participation in DMI Expo 2025 yielded promising results. Following business matching sessions, several travel agents from the Netherlands expressed interest in including PGN Karangrejo Balkondes in their tour packages.

"This potential collaboration opens broader promotion opportunities for community-based cultural and ecotourism in the European market," Krisdyan said optimistically.

Indonesian Ambassador: Golden Momentum for Tourism Promotion

Support also came from the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mayerfas, who considered DMI Expo an important moment to strengthen business and tourism relations between Indonesia and Europe.

"Indonesia's potential in natural resources, spices, and tourism is immense. Destinations beyond Bali, like Borobudur, must be continuously developed so as not to lose competitiveness to other Southeast Asian countries," he stated.

Harmony of Energy, Nature, and Culture

Today, Karangrejo Balkondes is not merely a stopover for tourists, but also a symbol of village transformation towards self-reliance. Every visitor can directly experience the harmony between green energy technology, local culture, and the warmth of the village community. (Antara)