The Tourism Study Program at the Sumatra Institute of Technology (Itera) is initiating the development of a storynomic tourism concept to enrich the tourist appeal of the Mount Betung area, Sumber Agung Village, Bandar Lampung. This strategic move aims to strengthen the regional tourism sector by integrating historical value and local wisdom into the travel experience.
The development of this concept involves intensive collaboration between academics, students, and local tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis) through a series of field explorations and focus group discussions. This approach aims to validate historical narratives, myths, and legends that have developed in the community, so they can be packaged into more meaningful and educational destination promotional materials.
Itera Tourism Lecturer Lili Anggraini emphasized that natural beauty alone is no longer enough to entice modern tourists. According to her, using strong narratives creates an emotional connection between visitors and the destination. Through storynomic tourism, every tourist spot on Mount Betung will have its own identity value, ranging from stories of the sheikh's pilgrimage sites to the history of resident relocation due to interactions with wildlife.
In an effort to enhance the region's competitiveness, the Itera team has also mapped out tourism potential directly in the field. Exploring the hiking trails revealed various natural riches, such as candlenut forests, palm sap sources, coffee plantations, and potential waterfall formations. All these findings will be combined into promotional media in the form of leaflets blending natural beauty with the richness of local folklore.
This initiative is expected to serve as a model for sustainable tourism development in Lampung. By documenting cultural values that have been orally passed down, Itera not only aims to increase tourist arrivals but also focuses on preserving local wisdom that forms the identity of Mount Betung.
