Open University strengthens tourism potential and resources in Lampung's Pahawang
The Institute for Research and Community Service at Universitas Terbuka (LPPM UT) is strengthening the potential, needs, and human resource development strategies in the Pahawang Island Tourism Village, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung. This strengthening effort was realised through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Dissemination of Community Service Results held recently, as part of the Enhancing Quality Education for International University Impacts and Recognition (EQUITY) programme for the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings Universitas Terbuka 2025–2026, funded by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).
‘Pahawang Tourism Village has great potential to continue developing. Therefore, strengthening human resources is an important necessity so that the community can play an active role as the main actors in developing the tourism village,’ said the Activity Chair, Dr Mualimin, in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. Mualimin emphasised that human resource strengthening is a crucial aspect of developing a tourism village, so that tourism management can proceed in a more directed and sustainable manner.
‘With this approach, the community is expected to be able to recognise local potential, understand the challenges faced, and formulate development steps appropriate to the conditions of Pahawang Island Village,’ said Mualimin. He revealed that a number of community strengthening needs have begun to be mapped more concretely. The resulting recommendations not only focus on the tourism sector but also touch on aspects of the local economy, village governance, the environment, education, and strengthening the community’s socio-religious capacity.
In the economic aspect, he continued, participants assessed the need for digital training for MSME players so that community products can be developed and marketed more widely through digital platforms. Additionally, Mualimin said, attention to the development of coral reefs and mangrove forests is also part of the important recommendations to maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem, which is the main supporting capacity of the tourism village. From the governance and institutional side, participants also emphasised the importance of digital-based government administration training.
Therefore, Mualimin affirmed that LPPM UT supports the strengthening of human resources in tourism villages through contextual education and community empowerment based on local potential, as well as being an effort by UT to organise community service activities that are relevant to community needs.