Improving Digital Integration in Sula's Tourism and Creative Areas

From Wednesday to Sunday (June 5-9, 2024), the Community Service (CS) team from the Urban and Regional Planning Study Program (PWK) at the School of Architecture, Planning, and Policy Development (SAPPK) ITB continued their CS activities for 2024. In 2023, the CS project titled “Preparation of a Village Masterplan Based on Digital Branding for the Resilience of the Creative and Tourism Industries” focused on identifying issues, challenges, and potentials in the tourism and creative industries in Falahu Village and Fatkauyon Village through a participatory approach.

In 2024, the CS activities are centered on strengthening the understanding of digitalization by introducing marketplaces and digital marketing to tourism business operators, as well as providing product photography training for creative industry entrepreneurs in both villages. Additionally, the team conducted site surveys and installed an "integrated digital board," an information board with barcodes linked to MSME business information in Sula Islands Regency, specifically at Tanjung Waka Beach in Fatkauyon Village, the location of the annual Tanjung Waka Festival which aims to promote tourism and the culture of Eastern Indonesia, attracting both domestic and international visitors.

The CS team comprises Prof. Ridwan Sutriadi, Ph.D., as the leader, and Nurrohman Wijaya, Ph.D., as a member, along with assistants Anandhika Arifianto, S.T., M. Ihsan Yudanto, S.T., Juwita, S.T., and MBKM students Firdausin A. Rahman and Anugrah Ambia.

On Wednesday (June 5, 2024), the team departed from Ternate City to Sanana on Sulabesi Island, Sula Islands Regency, using a Susi Air flight for approximately 1.5 hours.

On Thursday (June 6, 2024), the team held a workshop in the Falahu Village office hall, attended by the Village Head and other village officials. The villagers were very enthusiastic about participating in the activities.

On Friday (June 7, 2024), the workshop continued in Fatkauyon Village, attended by the Village Head, the Chairman of the Tourism Awareness Group, and village officials. Despite internet connectivity issues, the event ran smoothly, and participants paid close attention throughout the activities. After a break for Friday prayers, the CS team and village representatives collaboratively installed the tourism and MSME information boards at Tanjung Waka.

Overall, the CS activities in Sula Islands Regency were successful, raising awareness and knowledge among villagers about expanding MSME product marketing and promoting tourism through digitalization. This effort aims to create advanced, independent, and sustainable tourist and creative villages in the future. Additionally, the village tourism and creative industry masterplan documents produced from this project are expected to provide valuable input for the regency government in regional development planning.

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sappk.itb.ac.id DOSEN SAPPK, NURROHMAN WIJAYA, PH.D., DAN TIM MELAKUKAN KEGIATAN PENGABDIAN MASYARAKAT LANJUTAN DI KABUPATEN KEPULAUAN SULA, MALUKU UTARA

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