10 November 2023
Fenny Julistine Tarigan
Tourism is a highly important sector in a country's economy. Aside from providing employment opportunities, tourism also increases regional income and attracts investment. To address these challenges, professors from Universitas Sumatera Utara partnered with Buluh Duri Village through the "Profesor Mengabdi" (Professors Serve the Community) program. This initiative is one of USU’s community service programs designed to support villages in Indonesia.
Budiman Putra, Director of BUM Desa Baduma, stated his readiness to collaborate with the Community Partnership Service team of the "Profesor Mengabdi" program.
The service team is led by Prof. Ir. Nurlisa Ginting, M.Sc., Ph.D., together with three members: Prof. Subhilhar, MA., Ph.D.; Dr. Ir. Dwira Nirfalini Aulia, M.Sc.; and Dr. Wahyuni Zahrah, ST., MS. The team is also supported by four students. They are Utari Ardha Damanik, Rujana, Sara Vaneza Rachmawati, and Tri Febrianne Dhiyanti and one alumni, Sarah Nurdini Saragih. A field visit was conducted on 9 September 2023 and was attended by Village Head Dewi Yanthi Purba, BUMDes Director Budiman Putra, BUMDes staff, Pokdarwis, and local residents.
The "Profesor Mengabdi" program in Buluh Duri Village focuses on promoting sustainable tourism. This program involves various stakeholders, including village government, local communities, and academics.
One of the activities carried out under this program is training for local residents on sustainable tourism management. This training covers aspects such as waste management, environmental conservation, and community empowerment. Beyond sustainable tourism, the initiative also supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. This effort is expected to support the long-term development of Buluh Duri Tourism Village.
In addition to training, the program also provides mentoring to local residents to help them implement sustainable tourism practices. This assistance is carried out continuously to ensure that residents can independently manage sustainable tourism.
Prof. Subhilhar, MA., Ph.D., educated the community on the use of signage to provide clear instructions and safety protocols for rafting activities. Signage is also used for environmental management, such as marking areas where littering is prohibited. Other signs help identify potential hazards around rafting areas, such as strong currents, unsafe bridges, or sharp rocks that must be avoided.
Through the "Profesor Mengabdi" program, Buluh Duri Village is expected to achieve tourism sustainability. This is important to ensure that tourism brings continued benefits to the local community.
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