PANDU-WISTA: The Youth Uniting Our Village

Cipeuteuy Village, Sukagalih Hamlet, November 13, 2025 – PANDU-WISTA is a program that provides training to tour guides in Sukagalih Hamlet, Pandan Arum Sub-village, Cipeuteuy Village, Sukabumi Regency. This program was conceived by Aurelia Melvin Suteja from Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN). The training is presented as an effort to develop the vast potential of Sukagalih Damar Forest ecotourism by building the most essential foundation: competent, knowledgeable local tour guides who can provide visitors with memorable experiences.

Inspired by the potential of the Damar Forest, which offers natural beauty and local cultural richness, PANDU-WISTA was initiated to address the need for tour guides who not only understand Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) but also possess interpretive skills. This expertise emphasizes a deep understanding of the history, origins, and meanings behind every corner of the forest.

In this training, participants received material directly from Teguh Hartono, a professional eduwisata and experienced interpreter who shared insights on interpretation techniques, storytelling, and how to convey relevant knowledge to tourists.

As part of the program, PANDU-WISTA also marked the launch of the illustrated guidebook “Pituduh Ekowisata Sukagalih,” featuring visual information, stories, and knowledge about the Damar Forest. This book is designed to enhance guides’ capacity while also supporting understanding of the material presented by the speakers. The book serves as a learning aid that enriches the training process, especially in learning about medicinal plants, tour routes, and interpretation points.

The activity began at 8:00 AM and ran until 1:00 PM, featuring hands-on role-play simulations of an actual tour-guide experience. Seventeen participants from various age groups took part in the PANDU-WISTA activity and were divided into three groups of 5–6 people, aged 18-40, including both men and women. 

The roleplay was conducted along the Damar Forest ecotourism trail, starting from the meeting point, the Citamiang River, Nanggung Steps, Cipeuteuy Village, the camping ground, and ending at the eagle observation point. The participants were also equipped with a narrative containing product knowledge about the forest’s contents, including the types of herbal plants and their benefits.

This program serves as a learning space for aspiring guides to become more confident, communicative, and connected with tourists. Through an interpretive approach, guides not only lead visitors through the forest but also help them understand the stories, cultural values, and conservation messages it holds.

The PANDU-WISTA program was conducted smoothly and received positive feedback from the participants. Survey results indicate that the training materials were appropriate for the community’s needs and beneficial for enhancing their tourism-guiding skills.

Through PANDU-WISTA, a new spirit will emerge among the people of Kampung Sukagalih, leading them to participate actively in the development of ecotourism. This program is expected to be the first step in creating local tour guides who can provide a safe, informative, and memorable experience for tourists visiting the Sukagalih Damar Forest.

For more information, please contact:

Aurelia 0822-5856-4622

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika| Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara.