October 23, 2025 | 09:32 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The traditional Osing Tourism Village of Kemiren recently received the Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Programme 2025 award from the United Nations' tourism agency. Kemiren Village is located in the Glagah District of Banyuwangi Regency in East Java. It is known as the center of the Osing tribe culture. The Osing tribe is native to Banyuwangi and still maintains its traditions and ancestral language to this day.
As cited from the official page of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, this village, covering an area of approximately 177 hectares, is inhabited by more than 2,000 residents and is part of the Ijen Geopark area as an important cultural site at the eastern end of Java Island.
History of Kemiren Village
According to the Indigenous Region Registration Agency, the origin of the name Kemiren can be traced back to stories told by the village elders. In the past, this was a dense forest with many kemiri (candlenut) and durian trees, hence it was called "kemiren." From local history, the villagers are descendants of the Blambangan Kingdom community, a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that emerged after the fall of Majapahit around 1478 AD. The Osing community's customs, language, and social system are still strongly influenced by the cultural heritage of Blambangan.
The traditional houses in Kemiren Village reflect the philosophy of the Osing tribe. There are three main house types: tikel balung, baresan, and crocohan, each symbolizing the level of prosperity and social status of the owners. Additionally, the daily use of the Osing language is unique because it incorporates the sound "y." For instance, the word madyang means "eating," and abyang means "red."
With its rich heritage, Kemiren Village has become a leading cultural tourism destination that combines tradition and modern technology. Tourists can enjoy various attractions such as gandrung dance, mocoan lontar Yusup, as well as performances of angklung paglak and barong ider bumi, traditional ceremonies held annually to ward off disasters. Annual cultural festivals such as Tumpeng Sewu, Ngopi Sepuluh Ewu, and Festival Gedhogan always attract domestic and international tourists.
This traditional village is also known for its unique culinary delights. These include pecel pitik, a spiced chicken dish often served at traditional ceremonies, and kopi jaran goyang, a premium coffee that has obtained Indonesian National Standards (SNI) certification. Moreover, visitors can also enjoy a homestay in Osing-style architectural houses.
Awards
In addition to the award from UN Tourism, Traditional Osing Tourism Village Kemiren has also previously received the International 5th ASEAN Homestay Award (2025), Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia (2024), Sustainable Tourism Village Certification (2020), and third place in the Nusantara Tourism Village Competition (2019).
In response to the changing times, Kemiren Village has also adapted by digitalizing its tourism management. The Smart Village program from the Banyuwangi Regency Government makes it possible to record systems for visits, online video promotion, and digitally connected public services. Access to tourism information has also become easier through the Banyuwangi Tourism app available for download on the Play Store.
ANNISA NUR ALIMAH
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