One finding over the years is that Community Based Travel (CBT) in the form of locally owned home-stays supported by locally run tour programs and hand-crafted souvenirs by the community members can help the communities earn a decent living.  

Looking at the growth of tourism in Toraja and the pride of the Torajanese in wearing the handwoven textile, it’s time for TORAJAMELO “sule tondok” or to go home. I have moved my base from Jakarta to Toraja.  In Toraja, we plan to open a TORAJAMELO Gallery with an education corner or community center, where a small gathering can take place.

Since 2009, we have been receiving guests in our house. In 2018 we have formally launched our CBT in Toraja by continuing and strengthening our partnership with the Cooperative of Weavers of Sa’dan, which TORAJAMELO helped establish.  Additionally, we have started our partnership with the Lembaga Desa Wisata (LDW – The Tourism Village Body) Suloara’, which happens to be the sub-district of Batutumonga village where I live. LDW Suloara’ members have been trained for four years in various subjects (i.e. Community Organizing, Financial Management, Homestay Management, etc.) by SwissContact (swisscontact.org), a business oriented independent foundation for international economic cooperation.  In Toraja, SwissContact developed the website for tourism (www.visittoraja.com) and left a legacy in the form of Toraja Destination Management Organization (DMO) and the LDW Suloara’.

In 2018 alone, we have been making plans to receive guests from France and Culinary tours by the famous Indonesian Master Chef, William Wongso.

After Toraja, we will introduce CBT in Mamasa and Adonara & Lembata.  We will continue to grow this income stream by making sure, that the community will receive their fair share.