VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, supports the development of the creative economy sector in West Detusoko Village, Ende Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

His party provides support in the form of tools to make decorative lights to musical equipment to local creative and creative actors. This is done as an effort to increase the enthusiasm and creativity of the community and open up job creation in the West Detusoko Village.

The assistance was given by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy on the sidelines of his visit to the West Detusoko Tourism Village, Wednesday (1/12/2021). West Detusoko Village itself is a pilot village that is included in the top 50 best tourist villages in the 2021 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) event.

“I saw earlier that one of the creative economy actors needed help. Alhamdulillah, we immediately moved quickly. Because I'm used to solving problems by presenting solutions that are really needed. So today we present these tools and also the assistance of musical instruments for the studio so that the West Detusoko Tourism Village is more advanced. The hope is that the economy will rise and jobs will be created here,” he said.

Detusoko Tourism Village is also known as the Sao Ria Nuarini Traditional Village. Detusoko Barat is included in one of the villages supporting Lake Kelimutu and is the main door to Kelimutu National Park. No doubt, if Detusoko Barat Village has extraordinary natural and cultural potential. It takes 45 minutes to reach this village from downtown Ende.

Located at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, West Detusoko presents a beautiful topography. There are terraced rice fields which are not uniform in size and have been around for a long time. According to the stories of the villagers, the existing rice fields are inherited from generation to generation and are owned by almost all the families who inhabit Detusoko Barat Village. In the middle of the rice fields there is the colorful Lowaria River Bridge.

In addition to the rice fields, there is also the Ae Oka Detusoko hot spring pool. This pool is a hot spring located 1 km from the Detusoko terminal. This hot water contains sulfur and is believed to cure various skin diseases.

West Detusoko Village also has a variety of distinctive arts and culture. Among them are Mega Dance, a welcoming dance. Then, Sanggualu Dance which is a dance passed down from generation to generation by the ancestors. This dance is performed by young people by combining traditional games from bamboo sticks.

As mentioned by the Minister, Detusoko Barat Village has a studio called Sanggar Dau Dole Pokdariwis Nira Neni, as a place to preserve traditional dances, music and local Lio Ende songs.

What's interesting about Detusoko Barat Village is the traditional ritual performed by the Lio Ende Tribe once a year. This ritual is called Nggua Uwi, to show gratitude for life, harvest, and salvation.

One of the crops that become the main commodity is candlenut. Candlenut thrives in West Detusoko Village. Apart from being used for candlenut oil, the pecan fruit is also used by village children as the main tool for their game (substitute for marbles).

There are also local culinary products that have been packaged and can be used as souvenirs for West Detusoko. Among them, Detusoko Coffee, processed chili sauce, Red Rice, Black Rice, Peanut Butter, Various Herbal Drinks, and Dried Mango. Meanwhile, for craft products, there are bracelets, rings, earrings, perfume made from coffee, and decorative lights.

On that occasion, Deputy Minister of Villages for Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, Budi Arie Setiadi, said that the Tourism Village Award was part of a joint effort to support the development of creative villages in Indonesia.

“I hope that Detusoko village can be built and encouraged by young people. And what is certain is that in developing a village, cooperation is needed by all parties. Hopefully West Detusoko Village can be an inspiration, can develop from year to year, and can become an icon for the progress of villages in Indonesia," he said. (VOI)