The article, titled “Green Economy Development Through Educational Tourism in the English Village of Pare, Kediri,” examines how Kampung Inggris can be developed as an educational tourism area that generates economic benefits while also supporting environmental sustainability and the welfare of local communities.
Kampung Inggris is known as one of Indonesia's most popular language-learning centers. The area has developed from a collection of English language institutions into an educational destination that attracts thousands of visitors every day. During regular periods, the average number of visitors reaches approximately 5,000 people per day, while the number can rise to around 15,000 per day during school holidays.
This large flow of visitors has created broad economic impacts. Local communities benefit not only from language course institutions but also from accommodation, food businesses, transportation, rental housing, retail, and various other supporting services.
From an Agricultural Area to an Educational Tourism Center
The transformation of Kampung Inggris has taken place gradually. In the past, many residents in the Pare area worked as farmers, livestock breeders, and traders. The growth of language course institutions later changed the economic structure of the community.
Many residents began to become entrepreneurs by providing boarding houses, accommodation, food, clothing, transportation, and daily necessities for course participants. The growth of educational institutions also encouraged the emergence of various new businesses around the area.
Kampung Inggris primarily refers to the areas of Tulungrejo and Pelem Villages. Its development began with the establishment of Basic English Course (BEC) on June 15, 1977, founded by Kalend Osen. The institution became one of the pioneers of the growth of numerous language course institutions in Pare.
Over time, the area became known not only as a place to study languages. Kampung Inggris developed into a form of educational tourism that combines learning activities with tourism experiences.
Study Uses a Case Study and Group Discussions
To understand the development of a green economy in Kampung Inggris, Auny Vidiyan Imsawati, Supardal, Adji Suradji Muhammad, and Yeyen Subandi used a qualitative approach with a case study method.
The researchers explored the roles of the Tulungrejo Village Government, local communities, the Language Village Forum (FKB), course institutions, and business actors in developing environmentally friendly educational tourism.
The analysis also examined tourism and regional development policies. One important policy context is Kediri Regency Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2020 concerning the Regional Tourism Development Master Plan of Kediri Regency.
Through this analysis, the researchers examined how policies, resources, institutional coordination, and community participation influence the development of a green economy in Kampung Inggris.
Green Economy Development Remains Less Than Optimal
The study finds that Kampung Inggris has considerable potential to develop a green economy through educational tourism. However, the Language Village Forum and the Tulungrejo Village Government have not yet fully optimized the development of a comprehensive green economy model.
Several initiatives have already been implemented, including:
the development and improvement of environmentally friendly infrastructure;
the development of green open spaces;
waste management and environmental cleanliness programs;
strengthening of local MSMEs;
educational tourism development;
the use of clean energy by business actors; and
stronger coordination among government, communities, educational institutions, and businesses.
The Green Powerhub program introduced by PLN UID East Java is also cited as an example of an initiative encouraging MSMEs to adopt cleaner and more environmentally friendly energy sources.
According to Auny Vidiyan Imsawati and her colleagues, the green economy in Kampung Inggris is not limited to environmental protection. It also involves developing a local economy that can improve community welfare in a sustainable manner.
Coordination and Behavioral Change Remain Challenges
Despite its significant potential, the development of a green economy in Kampung Inggris faces several challenges.
One of the main challenges is coordination among government institutions, which has not yet been fully harmonized. Various sectors, including tourism, environmental management, regional development, education, and village governance, need to work in the same direction so that development does not proceed in separate and disconnected programs.
Another challenge is changing the behavior of communities and business actors. The transition toward a green economy requires a lengthy socialization process because businesses need to adjust their habits, technologies, and management practices.
The study also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that course institutions and business actors comply with regulations established by regional and village governments. This is particularly important because the rapid growth of the area has attracted many newcomers and new investors who establish language courses, accommodation facilities, restaurants, and cafés.
The researchers argue that this growth must continue to be managed so that local communities are not excluded from the economic development of Kampung Inggris.
Potential to Become a Sustainable Educational Tourism Model
The development of a green economy through educational tourism could provide broad benefits for Kampung Inggris. Improved infrastructure, more effective waste management, the use of clean energy, and stronger local MSMEs could improve the quality of life of residents.
A cleaner and more comfortable environment could also increase the attractiveness of Kampung Inggris as an educational destination. This could potentially attract more course participants and tourists while expanding economic opportunities for local communities.
Auny Vidiyan Imsawati and her colleagues from STPMD APMD Yogyakarta and Universitas Respati Yogyakarta emphasize that green economy development requires cross-sectoral collaboration. Government institutions, communities, educational institutions, and business actors need to participate in policy planning, implementation, and evaluation.
With stronger collaboration, Kampung Inggris Pare has the potential to become an example of sustainable educational tourism development in Indonesia. The model could combine education, tourism, local economic growth, community empowerment, and environmental protection within a single development ecosystem.
Ultimately, the success of the green economy in Kampung Inggris will not be determined only by the number of visitors or the number of language course institutions. It will also depend on the area's ability to protect the environment, strengthen local businesses, ensure compliance with regulations, and build sustainable cooperation between the government and the community.
Author Profiles
Auny Vidiyan Imsawati is the lead author from STPMD APMD Yogyakarta, with research interests in public policy, regional development, educational tourism, and green economy development.
Supardal is an academic from STPMD APMD Yogyakarta who contributes to research on public policy and community development.
Adji Suradji Muhammad is an academic from STPMD APMD Yogyakarta whose areas of interest include public administration, governance, and regional development.
Yeyen Subandi is an academic from Universitas Respati Yogyakarta who contributes to research on social issues, policy, and sustainable development.
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