USM Team Trains Tourism Groups in Nglurah Village for Virtual Promotion

In a bid to invigorate local tourism in the digital age, a community engagement program from USM Semarang has equipped tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis) in Nglurah Village, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, with skills to create affordable virtual tours and smart brochures. This initiative, known as the "Empowerment of Pokdarwis through the Development of Low-Cost 360° Photography and Smart Brochure Media" program, is fully funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology for the 2026 fiscal year.

The intensive two-day training, held on August 15-16, 2026, took place at the residence of Ismanto Hartono, the head of Pokdarwis Sewu Kembang. Ten representatives from various tourist attractions in Nglurah Village, often called "Kampung Sewu Kembang" (Village of a Thousand Flowers), actively participated. The program was led by Pratama Angga Buana, along with fellow lecturers Ahmad Rifai and Dinar Anggit Wicaksana, supported by two student assistants.

The first day focused on introducing low-cost 360-degree photography. Traditionally, creating virtual reality or 360-degree panorama content required expensive specialized action cameras. However, the USM team demonstrated how ordinary smartphones, equipped with a gyroscope sensor, could be used for this purpose. "Our participants were educated that the smartphones they use daily can be utilized to capture 360-degree images, provided the device has a gyroscope sensor. This is a breakthrough for low-cost yet high-impact promotion," explained Pratama Angga Buana.

Initially unfamiliar with the concept, participants grew enthusiastic as the team provided practical demonstrations. They practiced capturing rotating images, and despite some initial awkwardness, they successfully grasped the basic techniques and tool usage by the end of the session. The second day shifted to designing "smart brochures" or digital leaflets that incorporate local identity, aiming to create visually engaging promotional materials.

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Our participants were educated that the smartphones they use daily can be utilized to capture 360-degree images, provided the device has a gyroscope sensor. This is a breakthrough for low-cost yet high-impact promotion.