UGM students participating in this period’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) in Mertak and Kuta Villages, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, held the 2023 Mandalika Fair in Kuta Village on August 12-13, 2023.
In collaboration with ITDC (Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation) and the West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office, the Mandalika Fair culminated the team’s community service mission called “Building Mandalika.”
During their 50-day service, the UGM team carried out work programs under the theme “Optimizing the Improvement of Service Quality and Facilities to Create Sustainable Tourism in Kuta and Mertak Villages, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province.”
Throughout their stay in Mandalika, the team focused on tourism-related projects, including developing a Grand Design for Tourism in Mertak Village.
Among the other accomplished projects were a mangrove nursery training in collaboration with BPDASHL Moyosari, a stunting awareness website development with the health office, the establishment of the Gamalika School Kindergarten, the formation of a Youth Information and Counseling Center, and the organization of food and mouth disease vaccinations.
The Mandalika Fair’s first day featured a Color Run event as the opening activity, flagged off by ITDC’s Director of Operations, Troy Reza Warokka, and the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Secretariat General Administrative Assistant, Wirawan.
The Color Run received an overwhelming response from the local community. Some participants came from as far as Praya and Mataram.
The fair also featured a blood donation drive with the Central Lombok Indonesian Red Cross and concluded with a lucky draw with prizes and entertainment by Gili Vibes.
The second day of the Mandalika Fair presented a studium generale titled “Road to Sustainable Tourism.”
The studium generale brought in experts, including the Head of the Tourism Destination Development Division of the West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office, Chandra Aprinova; a Tourism Business lecturer at UGM, Dr. Nuryuda Irdana; the Planning & Research Manager at ITDC, Rannie Kamil; and Head of Central Lombok Tourism Office, Lendak Jayadi, with the Chair of the Sasak Customary Assembly Lalu Bayu Windia acting as a moderator.
The studium generale also had the Gendang Beleq Dance, Ciloka, and the Gandrung Dance by UKMKU of Universitas Mataram.
Author: Agung Nugroho