Bengkulu, May 22-23, 2026 — A team of lecturers from the Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Bengkulu, led by Iffah Izzatuddinillah, S.P., M.Si., conducted a

community service activity entitled “Disaster Mitigation Socialization and Evacuation

Route Determination to Support Tourism Safety in Lubuk Munik, North Bengkulu.”

This activity is part of the University of Bengkulu’s commitment under a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North Bengkulu Regency. Through this

activity, the community—particularly the Dewi Buiser Tourism Awareness Group

(Pokdarwis) in Lubuk Munik—is encouraged to utilize the tourism area while still

implementing disaster mitigation efforts and establishing evacuation routes to

support tourism safety.

The main focus of the activity is to increase community capacity in recognizing

potential disasters in river tourism areas, while strengthening tourism safety systems

through the development of evacuation routes and increasing community

preparedness. According to Iffah Izzatuddinillah, S.P., M.Si., safety is an integral part

of tourism destination development.

“A quality tourism destination not only offers natural beauty but also provides a

sense of security for every visitor. Through this activity, we want to strengthen the

community’s capacity to recognize potential disasters, understand evacuation

procedures, and build a culture of disaster awareness in the Lubuk Munik Tourism

area,” she said.

The series of activities began with a presentation on the basic concepts of disaster

mitigation in river-based tourism areas, identifying potential threats such as sudden

flooding, strong currents, and landslides, and the importance of emergency

preparedness. The activity continued with an interactive discussion involving the

community and the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) to identify disaster-prone

areas based on local experience.

Next, the community service team and participants conducted field observations to

map strategic locations, determine safe evacuation routes, and establish assembly

points. The results of these observations formed the basis for the development of

the Lubuk Munik Tourism Evacuation Route Map, which will serve as a guide for the

community and tourists in the event of an emergency.

In addition to map development, activities also included installing safety signs,

developing recommended evacuation routes, and providing education on self-rescue

procedures for both tourism managers and visitors. The participatory approach

employed enabled active community involvement in all stages of the activity,

fostering a sense of ownership in the established mitigation system.

Evaluation results indicated that more than 85% of participants experienced an

increased understanding of disaster mitigation, evacuation procedures, and the

1importance of tourism management that prioritizes safety. The Dewi Buiser Tourism

Group (Pokdarwis) also expressed its commitment to maintaining evacuation routes,

updating safety information, and providing ongoing tourist education.

This community service program is expected to be the first step in realizing Lubuk

Munik Tourism as a safe, resilient, and sustainable river tourism destination. In

addition to improving community preparedness, this activity also supports tourism

development oriented toward disaster risk reduction and visitor protection.

“The success of tourism management is not only measured by the increase in the

number of visits, but also by the community’s ability to ensure the safety and

security of tourists. We hope that the disaster mitigation model implemented in

Lubuk Munik can serve as an example for other river tourism destinations in North

Bengkulu Regency and Bengkulu Province,” concluded Iffah Izzatuddinillah, S.P.,

M.Si.

This activity was made possible with the support of the Faculty of Agriculture, the

University of Bengkulu, the Lubuk Saung Village Government, the Dewi Buiser

Tourism Group (Pokdarwis), and the active participation of the local community. The

synergy between universities, the government, and the community is expected to lay

the foundation for creating a tourist destination that is not only attractive to visit but

also safe, comfortable, and sustainable.