International Service Learning Program in Tourism Village Development Case Studies: Kampung Kabondok and Kampung Pasunga, Central Sumba, Indonesia

Abstract

Tourism is one of the leading sectors of Central Sumba District. In addition to natural environment, Central Sumba has rich of traditional culture that maintained in their social life. Kampung Pasunga, located in Anakalang village, is one of traditional village that have been designated as a Tourism Village by the local government. Kampung Kabondok, located in Makatakeri Village, not yet established as a tourist village but it has a great tourism potential because of their cultural traditions. This Service Learning Program focuses on mentoring and empowering the community in order to develop the tourism village. The participants for about 4 wk stay with the local community to be able to understand the problems faced and then provide recommendations that need to be done. Infrastructure, quality of human resources, and tourism promotion are key problems in the development of a tourism village. Approach method and socializing with residents become a very important point, to ensure the proposed programs are the real need of the community. The final outcome are proposed programs or recommendations that divided into short, medium and long term, that will be presented to local community and stakeholders, as consideration for the local development plan.