JAKARTA – Head of the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency (BSKDN) Yusharto Huntoyungo revealed that many regional governments have learnt about innovation policy strategies from the Banyuwangi government.
In fact, the learning efforts were not only carried out technically, but also at an adaptive level.
Speaking to The Editor, he mentioned that one example of such a strategy is to involve innovation from the community to shape a policy that benefits others.
“So it is not only the government that innovates, but also the community. It’s already a very good ecosystem for Banyuwangi,” he explained at the BSKDN Office in Jakarta, Friday (3/11).
A concrete example of policy innovation born from the strategy itself is that the Banyuwangi government will not allow outside businesses to build hotels if they are not four to five star class.
The reason is the hotels from jasmine class to three-star are intended to be built only by Banyuwangi residents – in the hope of boosting the economy of the local community.
“Seeing this market opportunity, the community is happy, and started offering their houses that fulfill certain standards to become homestays,” he added.
This strategy does not stop at the issuance of the policy, but is continued with another policy that requires an event in Banyuwangi every week.
This attracts tourists, who then potentially fill the homestays and hotels available in the area-and automatically increase the residents’ income.
Yusharto also mentioned that Banyuwangi is one of the most innovative regions.
The regency located in East Java earned the title after previously being categorized as a highly innovative region based on the regional innovation index measurement platform.
“Not all highly innovative regions will be included in the most innovative regions,” he said, emphasizing Banyuwangi’s innovation speciality.
For that reason, Yusharto encouraged other regional governments to emulate what the Banyuwangi Government has done for their regions.
Regional governments can learn from innovation data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The data also includes videos and verbal explanations that can serve as tutorials for regional governments in creating and implementing innovations for their respective regions.
