UBSI Research Proves Lambanapu's Potential as a Premier Tourism Destination in East Sumba
Research by lecturers from Universitas Bina Sarana Informatika (UBSI), a Creative Digital Campus with Superior accreditation, has again made a tangible contribution to community-based tourism development in Indonesia. Through a study published in Jurnal Media Wisata Volume 24 Number 1, May 2026 edition, Ani Wijayanti and Atun Yulianto successfully revealed the significant potential of Lambanapu Village, East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, as a tourism village capable of combining natural strengths, culture, and local community empowerment.
The research, titled ‘Development Strategy for a Tourism Village Based on Natural and Cultural Potential in Lambanapu Village, East Sumba Regency’, shows that Lambanapu Village has a great opportunity to develop into a premier sustainable tourism destination. The analysis places the village in a highly strategic position for development through strengthening its existing potential.
Ani Wijayanti explained that the research was conducted to identify Lambanapu Village’s key potential while formulating appropriate development strategies so that the benefits of tourism can be widely felt by the community. ‘Lambanapu Village possesses very strong natural and cultural wealth as capital for tourism village development. Through this research, we found that this potential is not only capable of attracting tourists but can also become a driver of the community’s economy if managed in a planned and sustainable manner,’ said Ani.
In the study, the research team identified several attractions that constitute Lambanapu Village’s main strengths. In terms of natural tourism, there are Tanau Hill and Seribu Hill, which offer panoramas typical of Sumba’s landscape. Meanwhile, from the cultural side, the village boasts the Lambanapu Site as a historical heritage, various traditional art performances managed by Sanggar Ori Angu and Sanggar Li Luri, as well as ikat weaving crafts that have become the identity of the local community.
According to Ani, Lambanapu Village’s greatest strength lies in the combination of natural beauty and cultural authenticity that remains preserved to this day. ‘We see that today’s tourists are not only seeking beautiful scenery but also authentic experiences. Lambanapu Village has both. This is its added value compared to many other destinations,’ she said.
The research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative approach through field observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies. A total of 10 informants consisting of tourism village managers, village officials, community leaders, and local business actors were involved to obtain a comprehensive picture of the village’s conditions and development opportunities.
The results of SWOT, IFAS, EFAS, and Internal-External (IE) Matrix analysis show that Lambanapu Village is in Quadrant I, indicating strong internal conditions and significant external opportunities. This position shows that the village has bright prospects for continued growth through aggressive and sustainable development strategies.
Atun Yulianto added that one of the interesting findings in this research is the high level of community involvement in tourism management. In fact, around 60 per cent of the members of the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) are women. ‘Community involvement is one of the important factors in the successful development of a tourism village. The significant participation of women indicates strong social capital to support community-based tourism management,’ he said.
Based on the research results, the team recommended a number of development strategies, ranging from improving supporting infrastructure, strengthening human resource capacity, developing integrated tourism packages, to utilising digital technology for destination promotion and local product marketing. ‘We recommend developing tourism packages that combine nature tourism, culture, and direct experiences with the community. Tourists can enjoy trekking activities, visit cultural sites, watch traditional art performances, and even learn to make typical Sumba ikat weaving. This concept has high selling value while providing economic benefits to the local community,’ said Atun.
Beyond the economic aspect, the research also emphasises the importance of preserving the environment and local culture as the main foundation for tourism village development. According to the researchers, the success of tourism development is not only measured by the number of tourist visits but also by the community’s ability to maintain cultural identity and environmental sustainability.
Through these research findings, Ani Wijayanti and Atun Yulianto hope that the formulated strategies can serve as a reference for local government, tourism village managers, and other stakeholders in developing Lambanapu Village as a premier tourism destination in East Sumba. ‘The potential possessed by Lambanapu Village is enormous. With collaboration between the government, the community, and various related parties, we are optimistic that this village can develop into a premier tourism destination that not only improves community welfare but also preserves cultural heritage and nature for future generations,’ said Ani.