UMKM Bazaar Opens Bamboo Rafting Festival in HSS

KANDANGAN — The UMKM Bazaar that forms part of the 2026 Bamboo Rafting Festival at the Roh 7 Nature Tourism Complex in Loksado was opened by the Chair of the Hulu Sungai Selatan (HSS) Dekranasda, Hj. Mustaidah Syafrudin Noor, on Friday. The event brought together 30 tenants showcasing regional signature products, from local cuisine to residents’ creative works.

The bazaar sends one clear message: a tourism festival is not only about spectacle. There is a bigger business at work behind it. Local money keeps circulating, small businesses get a stage to promote themselves, and Loksado products can stay visible long after the event ends.

UMKM Bazaar becomes a sales space and promotion stage

In the committee report delivered by the Head of the HSS Tourism, Youth and Sports Office, Doddy Puryandhani, this year’s bazaar featured 30 tenants. They brought a range of products that reflect the face of HSS’s creative economy. Traditional food, handicrafts, and processed local products stood side by side in the nature tourism area long associated with bamboo rafting.

That setup matters. Festival visitors come to enjoy the atmosphere, then stop by a booth that catches their eye. One plate of local food can lead to a repeat order. A small craft item can spark conversation, a photo, then word-of-mouth promotion. For UMKM operators, that simple pattern often works better than expensive advertising.

Mustaidah stressed that the festival should not be seen as mere annual entertainment or a ceremonial event. In her view, the moment should be used to show local cultural richness and community creativity through the best products so they gain wider recognition. The point was firm. Loksado should not be known only for its scenery.

Push for small businesses to move up a level

Speaking before the business owners, Mustaidah asked UMKM players in Loksado to keep growing and stay competitive. She emphasized three steps they need to take: keep learning, keep innovating, and use digital technology in marketing. The old ways still matter, but the market moves faster now. Buyers search for products on their phones, not only through physical shopfronts.

If local businesses want to reach customers outside the region, they need to show up in digital spaces. Product photos should be neat. Business names should be clear. Ordering contacts must be easy to find. Small details like those often decide whether a buyer completes a purchase or simply scrolls past. Mustaidah encouraged broader networks so UMKM can become a main driver of the community economy.

The message matters for many tourism regions in Indonesia, including HSS. A festival may be busy for a few days, but the economic benefit lasts longer only if businesses have sales channels that stay alive after the stage is dismantled. At that point, digital technology is no longer an extra. It becomes a survival tool.

Loksado bamboo and the chance for higher-value products

Mustaidah also highlighted bamboo, the icon of Loksado that has long been tied to the area’s identity. She said creativity and innovation can keep bamboo from being limited to a rafting attraction. The material can be turned into economic products with higher value, from souvenirs and small furniture to everyday goods with a wider market.

The idea makes sense. Bamboo grows abundantly, is easy to shape, and carries an environmentally friendly image. With good design, it can move up from a tourism object to a source of income. What it takes is one thing: the courage of business owners to turn ideas into products that can actually be sold. That is where the challenge lies.

Mustaidah also thanked the HSS Tourism, Youth and Sports Office and residents who worked together to make the event a success. She hoped the festival would bring broad benefits and blessings for the economy and community welfare. The closing note was warm, but the message stayed serious: a festival must produce real impact, not just look good in photos.

Cross-agency support and tourism spillover

The event was also attended by the Deputy Chair of Dekranasda and Vice Chair of the HSS TP PKK, Hj. Misnawati Suriani, the Head of the Industry and Trade Office, and several representatives from regional apparatus organizations. Their presence showed that UMKM affairs do not stand alone. They require cross-office, cross-program, and cross-interest coordination.

The festival’s appeal also reached beyond the district. Tourism ambassadors from several neighboring regencies attended, and the Head of the Tanah Bumbu Tourism, Youth and Sports Office came directly to the site. Visitor flows from other regions usually create a double effect: busier booths, wider promotion, and a stronger destination image. For HSS, that is a good sign that Loksado has real pull.

Looking ahead, the challenge is consistency. Bazaars like this need continued improvement in product curation, packaging, promotion space, and business mentoring. If all of that moves forward, the Bamboo Rafting Festival will not just remain an annual agenda. It can become a gateway for HSS UMKM to grow, expand markets, and turn bamboo into a longer-lasting source of income.

Brief summary

1. Hj. Mustaidah Syafrudin Noor, Chair of the HSS Dekranasda, opened the UMKM and Creative Economy Bazaar during the 2026 Bamboo Rafting Festival in Loksado.

2. A total of 30 tenants joined the event, showcasing local products from traditional food to creative goods.

3. Mustaidah urged UMKM players to use digital technology and process Loksado bamboo into higher-value products.

Short FAQ

What was opened? The UMKM and Creative Economy Bazaar as part of the 2026 Bamboo Rafting Festival.

Where was it held? At the Roh 7 Nature Tourism Complex, Loksado, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency.

How many tenants joined? Thirty tenants were recorded.