Grebeg Suro 2026 Boosts Ponorogo's Tourism Sector

Ponorogo kartininews.com - The Grebeg Suro 2026 event, which was officially opened by Ponorogo Acting Regent Lisdyarita on June 6, 2026, has energized the local tourism sector. Local tourism industry players have now come together to optimize the emerging economic opportunities.

“We have united under IPPO (Industri Pariwisata Ponorogo / Ponorogo Tourism Industry) to build synergy among business actors in order to create a more integrated tourism ecosystem,” said Erfan, a representative of IPPO.

In a written statement from the Ponorogo Regency Government on Saturday (13/6/2026), Erfan said that IPPO currently has 20 members from the tourism industry. They operate in various fields, including travel agencies (tour and travel), tourist destination management, inns/hotels, restaurants, cafes, souvenir centers, and creative economy businesses.

Erfan believes that Ponorogo’s tourism sector has great economic potential if managed properly. Therefore, it is necessary to build a strong, sustainable, and competitive tourism ecosystem so that Ponorogo can become a leading tourist destination. “Through IPPO, we will establish business networks, carry out more aggressive destination promotion, and encourage the growth of the creative economy,” he explained.

He added that the Grebeg Suro 2026 event has successfully increased visits from both domestic and foreign tourists. IPPO recorded at least 35 foreign tourists who came to Ponorogo to witness the annual event celebrating the Islamic New Year.

“There were 12 tourists from France, 10 from Japan, 5 from Singapore, and the rest from India and several other countries. This is proof that Ponorogo’s culture and traditions have strong appeal and can penetrate the international tourism market,” Erfan said.

Erfan also stated that IPPO members have agreed to develop various tourism products and packages that connect Ponorogo’s leading destinations. This way, tourists can enjoy a more complete travel experience. In addition to the Grebeg Suro tour package, there are historical tourism packages, religious tourism packages, and JecoTrip to Bukit Kuik in Bedingin Village, Sambit District.

“We are also starting to develop experience-based tourism as an alternative for visitors who want to enjoy another side of Ponorogo. One example is offroad adventure tourism, which complements the variety of tourism offerings while targeting outdoor activity enthusiasts,” he added.

In the near future, IPPO plans to invite several travel agencies from outside the region to see the tourism potential firsthand. They need to know that Ponorogo has many marketable tourist destinations, covering natural beauty, culture, and the creative economy. “The development of the tourism sector will ultimately contribute to increasing Regional Original Revenue (PAD),” he said.

Erfan expressed hope that more entrepreneurs will join IPPO to collaborate in developing the region’s tourism sector. Moreover, the Ponorogo Regency Government is providing full support to attract more tourists. “The more tourists who come, the greater the economic impact on the community. Our hope is that Ponorogo’s tourism can become one of the main drivers of the local economy,” he concluded.