Established in 2019 by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) as Destinasi Wisata Paling Prioritas /a Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP), Labuan Bajo Flores is a tourist destination that covers 11 districts and the Komodo Biosphere Reserve Area and an authoritative area of 400 hectares. As an integrated tourism area which is one of the five Super DPSP included in the National Strategic Project Program, the Development of National Tourism Strategic Areas, makes it necessary to improve several sectors in Labuan Bajo to meet DPSP standards. It is necessary to support tourists in enjoying its natural and cultural potential to the fullest. One area that often misses the attention of managers and visitors is regarding occupational health and safety (OHS) in tourist destinations.
Occupational health and safety aspects are needs and priorities whose main purpose is to ensure the safety and health of tourists during their activities in the Tourism Village. Paying more attention to the OHS aspect can also create a positive image that the tourist destination is safe to visit. A way to establish a safety culture in tourist destinations is to improve the competence of tourism occupancy business actors and food handlers.
“So far, people assume that tourism activities are nothing more than fun and recreation. In fact, various tourism activities and attractions are inseparable from various kinds of OHS hazards and risks such as falls, slips, fires, disasters, accidents, poisoning, and foodborne diseases that may cause tourism workers and tourists to get sick or suffer minor to severe injuries,” said Robiana Modjo, Lecturer at the OHS Department, Faculty of Public Health (FPH), University of Indonesia (UI).
Along with the UI Directorate of Community Service and Empowerment (DPPM), the FPH UI Community Service Team chaired by Robiana Modjo and members Fatma Lestari, Annisa Tria, and Hadiq Nur conducted OHS and Food Hygiene and Sanitation Aspects Development in the Tourism Village of Labuan Bajo on October 8, 2022. The community service carried out is education using the focus group discussion method and providing pocket books made by the FPH UI Community Service Team. The participants of this community service were 30 people consisting of managers of Sarana Hunian Wisata / Tourist Residential Facilities (Sarhunta), managers of Pangan dan Industri Rumah Tangga / Household Industry Food (PIRT), and also managers of Tempat Pengelola Pangan / Food Management Places (TPP) from various areas around the Labuan Bajo Tourism Area, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This initiative is a collaboration among Universitas Indonesia, the Health Office of West Manggarai Regency, as well as the Tourism, Creative Economy, and Culture Office of West Manggarai Regency.
Lidwina Tridia, a representative of the West Manggarai District Health Office, expressed that the Health Office felt helped by the organization of this event. ” From the Health Office, we would like to thank you for organizing this program with homestay entrepreneurs, PIRT, and TPP. We hope we can work together again, especially next year. From this program, there is a lot of information and knowledge that is really useful for us,” said Lidwina.
The realization of a healthy and safe Labuan Bajo Tourism Village for workers and tourists is expected to be one of the added values that attract tourism. Prof. Fatma Lestari, UI Disaster Risk Reduction Center (DRRC) Expert, also hopes that this program can provide benefits for destination managers and tourist villages, in realizing world-class tourism.
