Setanggor Village in Lombok Becomes Increasingly Connected Thanks to Internet Village Programme

From a village once hampered by network issues, Setanggor is gradually transforming into a more connected area, making it increasingly ready for development. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Setanggor Village in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, is known as one of the most developed tourist villages on Lombok Island. The village’s name even entered the top 75 of the 2023 Indonesian Tourism Village Awards (ADWI), a recognition of its potential, including rich culture, distinctive cuisine, and a preserved rural atmosphere. A variety of arts activities and traditions also serve as a magnet for visiting tourists. However, behind this potential, the village once faced challenges with uneven and unstable internet access. Network limitations made tourism promotion less than optimal, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) struggled to market their products, and schools could not fully utilise the internet for learning purposes. Changes began to be felt about eight months ago when Setanggor Village received network support through the Internet Village Programme from the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi). This programme is designed to promote equitable connectivity to remote villages. Since then, internet access has expanded and reached more points in the village. Residents have started to use it for various needs, from developing businesses, supporting education, to strengthening village tourism promotion. The Head of Setanggor Village, Kamarudin, said his area has long been known as a tourist village. However, previous promotions were still done manually, limiting their reach. “We were indeed known as a tourist village, but at that time it was quite difficult in terms of promotion. Tourism activities were mostly marketed manually,” he said. He explained that since internet access arrived, promoting village activities has become much easier through social media and various digital platforms. The impact is starting to show in various village events. Culinary bazaars and tourism agendas are now not only visited by local residents but also able to attract people from outside the area.