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Karanganyar market strives to attract visitors as ecotourism destination
The Mbatok Market, which opens on the first and third weekend of every month, is among the dozens of organic markets that are being developed by the Tourism Ministry this year at tourist destinations. They aim to boost local traditions through traditional markets.
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Mbatok Market (JP/Stefanus Ajie)
T
he springs in Sedang Lanang in Badan village, Karanganyar, Central Java has been turned into a traditional market selling the various traditional cuisine around Mount Lawu.
Humble stalls made of bamboo are scattered across the village’s hilly area, neatly lined up among along the springs and lush trees.
The Mbatok Market, which opens on the first and third weekend of every month, is among the dozens of organic markets that are being developed by the Tourism Ministry this year at tourist destinations. They aim to boost local traditions through traditional markets.
This year, the ministry set a target of opening 100 of these markets across the archipelago. So far, at least 60 are operational.
Read also: Preserving Barongan performing arts in Plosorejo, Karanganyar
The destination is part of a wider effort to expand ecotourism by combining the potential of natural landscapes and the traditions and culture of local people, inviting visitors to enjoy a unique experience with an attractive visual display that may inspire their social media content.
Their content will then serve as online promotion to further boost the tourist destination.
Mbatok Market itself was initiated in cooperation with the Indonesia Charm Movement (GenPi) and involved the locals, village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) and art communities around Karanganyar.
GenPi Surakarta chairman Yusuf Rian Adipratama said the residents of Badan were very enthusiastic about the market.
"We didn’t have a lot of time to create the market, but thanks to the help of many parties, today it is able to operate," said Yusuf during the grand opening.
In the morning, the market already hosted long lines of visitors who exchanged their money with ketip, wooden tokens that will be used as the currency of Mbatok Market. On the other side of the area, bamboo stalls selling various foods were crowded with visitors.
Among the most popular dishes were nasi jagung (corn rice) served with ikan asin (salted fish) and bothok (vegetables cooked with grated coconut), gethuk (snack made of cassava), es dawet (iced beverage with rice flour jelly, palm sugar and coconut milk), bubur kacang hijau (mung bean porridge), pecel (nut-based sauce accompanied by boiled vegetables) and sate jamur (mushroom satay).
In addition to food, the market also featured traditional art performances. Visitors could also participate in various workshops, such as on how to make wayang suket (grass puppets) or how to process tea leaves, which is the main agricultural commodity for locals.
Mbatok Market head Galih Nagasena, said plans are in place to expand the market.
"We will offer local locally made wares such as handicrafts and traditional art," Galih said.
The market is also set to collaborate with third parties to develop attractions and a range of additional facilities to further serve customers and promote the village as a tourist destination. (kes)
