Balikpapan — Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) has once again demonstrated its commitment to community empowerment through a bamboo product innovation program at the Bamboe Wanadesa Ecotourism area in Balikpapan. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen tourism identity based on local potential while boosting the community’s creative economy.

The program is led by Eko Agung Syaputra, M.Ds., along with a research team consisting of Supratiwi Amir, S.Ds., M.Sn., Ramadhan Paninggalih, Novianti Rossalina, Anastasya Husnul Syauira, Fasya Saffanah Ramadani, Muhammad Rizky, Juniardika Atha Lelena, Rizky Irswanda Ramadhana, and Nico Arifin.

The initiative was driven by the underutilization of bamboo as a flagship product in the tourism area. In fact, bamboo holds significant potential as an eco-friendly material that can be transformed into creative products with economic value.

Through a program titled EcoBoo, the ITK team conducted a series of training sessions and workshops involving the local community. These activities ranged from bamboo processing and product creation to marketing strategies and digital branding, all designed in a participatory approach to ensure they are easily adopted by the community.

“This program does not only focus on production skills, but also on how the products can gain market value and become a distinctive identity of the tourism area,” explained Eko Agung Syaputra.

During the program, participants were trained to create various bamboo products such as coasters, mini vases, and keychains. They were also equipped with basic product photography skills and social media marketing techniques.

Interestingly, the program also involved tourists directly in the workshops. Visitors were given the opportunity to create their own bamboo products, resulting in a more interactive and educational tourism experience.

As a result, there has been a significant improvement in the community’s skills—not only in production but also in business management and marketing strategies. The products created have even begun to gain value as unique souvenirs of the area.

Overall, the program has generated positive impacts both economically and socially. In addition to opening new business opportunities, it has strengthened the identity of Bamboe Wanadesa Ecotourism as a destination rooted in local wisdom and sustainability.

Moving forward, the ITK team hopes that similar programs can continue to be developed and replicated in other regions with comparable local resource potential.