Tangerang, 7 February 2026 – A beaming smile was seen on the face of Marthen Ragowino Bira, Head of Tebara Village, West Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. The village he leads became an integral part of BCA Expoversary 2026, held at ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten, from February 5–8, 2026.
Marthen attended this annual event organized by PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) to inspire people across the nation. He demonstrated that the local cultural heritage of Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village is capable of uplifting the community’s economy while also bringing pride to Indonesia on the regional stage.
Speaking on a podcast program at the Mini Studio BCA Expoversary 2026 on Thursday (February 5), Marthen said he was proud to have led Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village to receive the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award 2026, held in Cebu, the Philippines, representing Indonesia.
This achievement was earned because Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village has successfully integrated culture- and nature-based tourism with the local economy. The village has also generated significant income through the support and mentoring provided by Bakti BCA.
“Beyond funding, empowerment is also a crucial factor in a village’s development. Such empowerment must be tailored to each village’s unique character, including its social, economic, and cultural aspects. This is where BCA’s role through Bakti BCA becomes highly valuable,” Marthen said.
Marthen revealed that the Bakti BCA program has brought significant changes to Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village. According to him, the village has transformed into a self-sustaining tourism village with the active involvement of local youth.
He cited the establishment of Prai Ijing homestays, a Sumba weaving craft center, and several nature-inspired photo spots as factors that helped the tourism village generate IDR 1.4 billion in revenue in 2025 from the tourism sector. This growth was in line with a 67% increase in tourist
arrivals in the same year.
Marthen also shared that the improvement in residents’ economic conditions led to an upgrade in the village’s status to a “Developing Village” (Desa Maju). However, he emphasized that this achievement was not attained overnight.
According to Marthen, all of these achievements were made possible through the tireless spirit of mutual cooperation, or mutual cooperation, among all community members. This long, collective process was realized through strengthening village institutions, designing tourism packages, and optimizing local potential—all of which were carried out with guidance from Bakti BCA.
“I hope this achievement can serve as a catalyst for continuous self-development, addressing shortcomings, enhancing creativity, and inspiring other villages to innovate—because Tebara Village should not progress alone. Hopefully, our collaboration with Bakti BCA can become a model for other villages,” Marthen said.
Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village is one of the 28 villages supported by Bakti BCA (Desa Bakti BCA). Through this program, Bakti BCA provides comprehensive assistance, including human resource capacity building, strengthening tourism attractions, service management, financial literacy training, expanding market access, and empowering local MSMEs. Through this initiative, Bakti BCA aims to expand economic opportunities for local communities, enhance destination appeal, and create a more sustainable tourism ecosystem.
Separately, EVP Corporate Communications & Social Responsibility BCA Hera F. Haryn said that the transformation of Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village represents one of BCA’s tangible contributions to Indonesia.
“We believe that effective empowerment must be carried out inclusively by actively involving local communities. Local tourism has great potential to grow into leading destinations that not only attract visitors, but also generate economic, cultural, and sustainability value for communities. Through the Bakti BCA development program, we hope to strengthen capacities and open up opportunities for progress for tourism villages,” Hera explained.
Picture Information:
Bakti BCA Village Represents Indonesia on the International Stage – Tebara Village Head Marthen Ragowino Bira shared how his village earned the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award 2026, held in Cebu, the Philippines, and went on to represent Indonesia. This was conveyed during a Mini Studio session at BCA Expoversary 2026, ICE BSD, Tangerang, on Thursday (5/2). Marthen explained that the Bakti BCA program has brought significant changes to the Kampung Prai Ijing/Tebara Tourism Village. According to him, the village has transformed into a self-sustaining tourism village with the active involvement of local youth. He cited the establishment of Prai Ijing homestays, the Sumba weaving craft center, and several scenic photo spots showcasing natural beauty, which together enabled the village to generate IDR 1.4 billion in revenue from the tourism sector in 2025. This achievement aligns with a 67% increase in tourist arrivals in the same year.
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About PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (as of 31 December 2025)
BCA is one of Indonesia's leading banks, focusing on transaction banking and providing credit facilities and financial solutions for corporate, commercial, SME, and consumer segments. As of the end of December 2025, BCA serves 43 million customer accounts and processes more than 115 million transactions daily, supported by 1,270 branch offices, 20,163 ATMs, as well as internet & mobile banking services and the Halo BCA contact center, which is accessible 24 hours a day. BCA's presence is supported by a number of subsidiaries focusing on vehicle financing, Sharia banking, securities, general and life insurance, digital banking, and venture capital. BCA is committed to building long-term relationships with customers, prioritizing mutual
interests, and creating a positive impact on society at large. With over 27,000 employees, BCA's vision is to become the primary bank of choice for the public, serving as a key pillar of Indonesia's economy.
PT BANK CENTRAL ASIA TBK
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