Cultural Tourism of Trusmi Wetan Village as a Leading Regional Attraction

Trusmi Wetan Village, located in Cirebon Regency, has a very strong cultural potential, especially in terms of batik art which has become a local identity. However, this potential has not been fully optimized as a sustainable tourism force. In the era of development based on local potential, the development of cultural tourism in this village not only has the opportunity to improve the community’s economy but also maintain the sustainability of cultural values ​​that have been passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, the right strategy and approach are needed to make Trusmi Wetan a leading regional destination based on culture.

History of Trusmi Wetan Village

The name “Trusmi” comes from the words “Terus semi.” In the past, residents found plants that always grew back after being cut down. This phenomenon inspired the name of the village. Until now, Trusmi has grown as a unique and productive batik village in the Cirebon area.

Cultural Tourism Potential

Religious and Historical Areas

One of the main icons in Trusmi Wetan is Kramat Buyut Trusmi, a religious site that has high historical value. This site is also the location of an ancient mosque believed to be a relic of Prince Cakrabuana, an important figure in the spread of Islam in Cirebon. Every year, this site is crowded with pilgrims and tourists who are interested in history and religion. The spiritual atmosphere and traditional architecture are a special attraction that is not easily found elsewhere.

Memayu Buyut Tradition
Trusmi Wetan has a unique tradition called Memayu Buyut, which is a traditional ceremony held once a year before the rainy season. Residents together perform a cleansing ritual and pay respect to ancestors. This event is not only full of spiritual meaning, but also becomes a place for togetherness and community entertainment. Activities such as Memayu Buyut can be packaged as community-based cultural tourism that presents authentic experiences for tourists.

Creative Economy Potential

Trusmi Batik Industry
Batik is the main identity of this village. Craftsmen in Trusmi Wetan produce hand-drawn and stamped batik with typical Cirebon motifs such as Mega Mendung and Wadasan. Batik products are not only sold within the village, but also supply the national market. In addition to finished products, several craftsmen also open workshops for tourists who want to try batik directly. This provides added value in the form of creative educational tourism.

Lambak Crackers (Lambak Crackers)
Another economic potential is buffalo skin crackers or known as lambak crackers. This product is made from buffalo skin that is dried and fried until crispy. Unfortunately, these crackers are not yet widely known because they are still sold conventionally in local markets. With more attractive packaging and digital marketing, lambak crackers can become typical souvenirs that strengthen the village’s image as a center for superior local products.

Trusmi Wetan Village Language Variations

In Trusmi Wetan Village, the existence of Cirebon language has begun to experience a decline in its use. Indonesian is now more dominant, especially in educational environments. This causes the younger generation to be more accustomed to communicating in Indonesian than in their own regional language. However, Cirebon language still lives in informal spaces. The elderly and some adults still maintain it, especially when chatting at home, doing activities in the market, or when attending traditional events and community activities. Through their speech, Cirebon language remains part of the local identity that binds the community to the cultural values ​​inherited from their ancestors.

Phonology

Phonology is a branch of linguistics that studies the sound system in a language. In the context of the Cirebonese language in Trusmi Wetan Village, phonology studies the variations in pronunciation of words used by the local community. This study includes differences in phonemes, which are the smallest sound units that can distinguish meaning, as well as changes in sound from the standard form. For example, the Indonesian word “cuci” is pronounced as basuh by young respondents and wesu by older respondents, indicating a shift in the consonant /b/ to /w/ which reflects the process of softening sounds in the local dialect.

Morphophonology

Morphophonology is the study of sound changes that occur due to morphological processes, such as affixation and reduplication. In the Cirebonese language in Trusmi Wetan, these changes are seen in the formation of verbs. For example, the word “alir” becomes ngalir (prefix *ng-*) in young respondents, while older respondents use milih which shows a change in the root word as well as a different affixation pattern.

Lexical

The lexical aspect relates to the differences in vocabulary used by speakers from different generations. In Trusmi Wetan, the older generation tends to maintain traditional terms, while the younger generation adopts simpler or language-influenced forms. For example, the word “buah” is pronounced buah by young respondents, but uwae by older respondents, indicating a shift in lexicon influenced by generational factors.