Lecturers from the English Education Undergraduate Program at FKIP, University of Mataram, held a training session titled English for Tourism, based on local resources and wisdom, for tourism stakeholders in Timbanuh, East Lombok Regency. This activity aims to enhance the English proficiency of the local community, particularly those involved in the tourism sector, to better prepare them for interacting with international tourists who are increasingly interested in visiting the Rinjani hiking trail via Timbanuh.
This training combines practical English instruction with the introduction and use of vocabulary and conversational phrases directly related to the culture, nature, and local life of Timbanuh. Participants were guided to learn how to introduce local tourism attractions—such as waterfalls, traditional cuisine, and local customs—in communicative and contextual English. The materials were designed to be easily understood by community members from various educational backgrounds.
The activity was met with great enthusiasm by tourism operators and local guides in Timbanuh. In addition to improving language skills, the training also fostered a sense of pride in their own cultural heritage as an essential part of the area's tourism appeal. It is hoped that this training will serve as an initial step in empowering the local community to take an active role in promoting sustainable tourism based on local potential and indigenous wisdom.
