The group of 30 Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta students could not help but feel proud as they greeted their visiting rector in Pemenang Barat subdistrict, North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), over the weekend.

For almost two months the students have lived in the subdistrict, located 45-minute drive from the NTB provincial capital of Mataram, to participate in the community service (KKN) program, a mandatory program for university students that requires them to live in and serve the community.

“It’s an honor for us that our rector is visiting us here,” said Rifki Al-Ghifari, a coordinator of the KKN in the sub-district.

Rifki said they were divided into four groups and placed in four different villages: Telaga Wareng, Kerujuk, Menggala Barat and Menggala Timur.

Each village had its own source of economic potential, ranging from agriculture to tourism, husbandry and culture.

In Kerujuk, for example, the students are focused on helping locals develop ecotourism by assisting them in the management and provision of attractive and unique facilities to lure visitors, such as outbond facilities and scenic picture taking spots.

The success of the KKN program in the sub-district led UGM rector Panut Mulyono to visit the village in the hope that the next batch of students sent to the region could improve on what had already been achieved.

“The objectives of KKN are not just to contribute to the development of a region and the nation, but also to provide our students with the opportunity to directly learn from the community,” Panut said.

He also expressed his admiration that Lombok had always tried its best to develop its tourism sector, arguing that the sector could be the fastest way to develop the region.

Dwi Umi Siswanti, a lecturer assigned to supervise the students’ KKN in Pemenang Barat, said the program there was conducted under the two main themes of optimizing organic farming and sustainable development-based ecotourism.

Dwi said the subdistrict had plenty of potential, especially in the tourism sector, and that at least two ministries had been inspired to give financial aid to Pemenang Barat to develop its tourism sector.

“We are enthusiastic about coming to offer assistance to develop the region’s potential,” she said.

Pemenang Barat subdistrict head M Syukri confirmed that in the near future his administration would receive Rp 1.5 billion (US$112,570) to develop 20 homestays in Kerujuk from the Ministry of Tourism.

“We also expect further aid from the Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration to develop more homestays and build toilets and street illumination,” Syukri said.

Separately the chairman of the Kerujuk tourism management body, Lukmanul Hakim, said his village had been developing ecotourism since 2015, but started offering tour packages in December 2016.

A one-day tour package is offered for Rp 80,000 per person including one meal and snack plus 10 different outdoor activities, while a live-in package is offered for Rp 100,000 per person per night.

While in the village tourists can enjoy the natural scenery with green forests and hills as a backdrop, traverse walking paths, play in the clear waters of a nearby river, enjoy various games and activities, or just take pictures of the beautiful surrounds.

“We are now preparing to offer a cross country package,” said Lukmanul, adding that the village received between 50 and 100 domestic and foreign tourists a day.

Popular

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off Java island: authorities

Philippines to endure extreme heat until mid-May

Indonesia one step from Olympics after beating South Korea