Pengembangan Potensi Desa Wisata Berbasis Ekonomi Kreatif untuk Meningkatkan Perekonomian Masyarakat

Dusun Sambirejo and Dusun Tapansari, located in Desa Watusigar, Ngawen Subdistrict, Gunung Kidul Regency, Central Java, possess significant creative economic potential that can be leveraged to improve the welfare of the local community. This potential lies in the tourism sector, which is based on natural beauty, cultural traditions, and unique local products such as traditional hats, soy milk, horticultural snacks, recycled crafts, and herbal medicine. However, several challenges have been identified, including limited community skills in creating creative products, lack of knowledge regarding attractive packaging techniques, and restricted market access. The goal of this community service activity is to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of the community through creative economy initiatives in both villages. The method employed is a participatory ethnographic approach, which allows for an in-depth understanding of the social and cultural environment of the target community. The results of this initiative reveal significant potential for the development of a creative economy based on the area's natural and cultural wealth. This potential can be optimized through innovations in attractive and environmentally friendly packaging, improvements in production efficiency, and broader marketing strategies, including digital marketing. These innovations are expected to enhance the economic value of local products, expand market access, and significantly contribute to the economic improvement of the community at both regional and national levels.