ABSTRACT
The development of industry ideally has an influence on the economic development of the surrounding community, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many industries are laying off their workers. One of the tourism industries that continued to operate during the pandemic is the tourism industry of PT Selecta City Batu. This tourism is still operating and is one of the leading destinations in Batu. Community empowerment is carried out by the Selecta Kota Batu tourism industry. The target is the community around tourism, especially women's groups. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach with descriptive research. The subject was determined by means of a snowball with the consideration that the previous subject knew more about the subject's information afterward. Data mining was carried out by interview, observation, and documentation, and descriptive qualitative data analysis. Empowerment of local communities by the Selecta tourism industry from a gender perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic in Batu City, shows that the local community, especially women were targets of community empowerment from PT Selecta. The CSR program that has been carried out by the Selecta company has met the standardization of program implementation to meet the needs of the community. The community is provided with power/kiosk facilities to sell at prices below the norm limit of renting stalls outside the Selecta area. Apart from that, there are also basic food and medical allowances. During Covid, people are only asked to pay 50% of the normal rent. The Covid pandemic has made much of the tourism industry suffer losses, but not for PT Selecta, in fact it has been able to create prosperity for the surrounding community. Selecta has a positive impact on the welfare of the community through the opening of employment opportunities, as well as triggering an additional economy in the surrounding community.
