The KKN-PPM UGM Jelajah Kei Kecil Team collaborated with the Southeast Maluku Regency Tourism Office to organize the One Day Tour Kei Island: Sail to Iswadi for foreign tourists on Thursday (Jul. 24).
The Sail to Iswadi event offers a tour package for foreign tourists to experience the culture and culinary delights of Ohoi Isso, Wain Baru, and Disuk in the East Kei Kecil District.
Cooperation with the Southeast Maluku Regency Tourism Office was undertaken to integrate the “Sail to Iswadi” tour package into the “Sail to Indonesia” event series.
The Sail to Indonesia event took place from Jul. 21-27, 2025, and was attended by foreign tourists who docked at Ngiar Varat Beach.
This activity was an effort to introduce the natural beauty and cultural richness of Iswadi through various events held.
“This year’s Sail to Iswadi tour package is a proud moment for us, as it successfully attracted tourists from various countries, from England, France, to Sweden,” said Niken Yulistya Rohma, Head of the Sail to Iswadi Organizing Committee, on Thursday (Jul. 30).
Rohma stated that this tourism promotion work program was carefully designed to highlight the uniqueness of each ohoi (village) to be visited.
The activity aims not only to introduce the natural beauty and local culture but also to create an authentic and memorable experience for tourists.
“We hope this activity will not only strengthen the tourism appeal of Ohoi Isso, Wain Baru, and Disuk, but also encourage the economic growth of the local community,” Rohma added.
According to Rohma, foreign tourists had the opportunity to explore the beauty and local culture of Iswadi.
The tourists’ arrival was festively welcomed by the residents with a welcoming ceremony featuring the Temar Rubil Dance (Arrow Dance) in Ohoi Isso.
This was followed by a series of traditional welcomes. More than just a welcome and form of entertainment, this dance depicts the struggles of the Kei ancestors and serves as a form of protection against bad things.
On the other hand, the tourists were also welcomed with the Teten Evav Hirba Vee Dance (Enbal Making Dance), which portrays the daily life of the community in the process of making enbal.
Enbal is a staple food and a distinctive feature of Kei Kecil. The tourists got a new experience through an ecoprint workshop.
They were then treated to lunch at a restaurant. Afterward, the activities continued in Ohoi Wain Baru with an enbal and fish floss workshop.
Participants could see firsthand the processing of enbal, which is the main commodity of the Kei community.
“From Wain Baru Pier, participants continued their journey to explore the island using a ketinting (small motorized boat). Participants had a new experience related to mangrove forests and could try oysters directly, which usually live on mangrove trunks and roots,” she explained.
She added, “The oysters were eaten with a side of chili sauce made by the members of the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) of Ohoi Isso.”
The last destination for the tourists was Ohoi Disuk. Participants used a ketinting to go to Tanjung Disuk after a boat trip around the sea near Ohoi Disuk.
The participants were greeted by a relaxed atmosphere with an afternoon breeze on the edge of Tanjung Disuk.
While enjoying the afternoon, participants could visit the MSME bazaar. It provided various products and specialties of Kei Kecil, such as noken bags, bracelet crafts, enbal sticks, and enbal brownies. These were all made by the local community.
The afternoon in Tanjung Disuk felt warm, decorated with traditional songs sung by students and residents of Ohoi Disuk.
Some participants danced along with the local community, with warmth and friendliness emanating from the Kei people.
In a warm atmosphere full of laughter and togetherness, the Sail to Iswadi series concluded with a memorable afternoon in Tanjung Disuk.
Participants enjoyed snacks and a sunset dinner.
“The students and local community worked very well to organize this event. Six years ago, we started sailing from France, and today will be one of the most memorable days for us,” said Carole, one of the Sail to Iswadi participants.
Anders Ullman, another participant in the Sail to Iswadi, stated that the students had provided an unforgettable experience for him and his group.
They came from a distant place, and the students’ service was very professional.
“There were many activities with insights into local culture and traditions, plus the warmth and friendliness created by the community. It made us feel emotionally close despite the language barrier,” Ullman added.
Reporter: KKN-PPM UGM Jelajah Kei Kecil Team/Razthalita Yajna
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographs: KKN-PPM UGM Jelajah Kei Kecil Team