The Role of Sumbawa Oil in Developing Sumbawa Island as a Destination for Traditional Health Tourism Based on Sasambo Culture

Abstract

The development of tourism is currently a priority for governments in Indonesia, especially the Sumbawa Island. Tourism begins to glance at other sectors or areas not only about the natural scenery but also begins to extend to traditional health tourism by taking advantage of local culturally based local medicinal plants. Considering in Indonesia, especially the Sumbawa Island have an abundance of medicinal plants. It has been promoted as one of the first steps in promoting tourism. The effort and measures involved the use of Sumbawa Oil that is known to have many medicinal properties and to be popular in the community because it has proved capable of being a cure. Sumbawa oil is one of the superior products of the Sumbawa Island which is produced by local communities by utilizing the surrounding natural resources. This oil is not just a traditional medicine but also a local culture obtained from ancestors. All production processes, from the selection of raw materials to processing are carried out based on knowledge from generation to generation. Some producers even have traditional rituals performed during processing. This traditional ritual is believed to be able to increase the medicinal properties of Sumbawa oil. Sumbawa Oil could be a flagship for by-products and traditional medicated educationers that could boost the desire of tourists to visit the Sumbawa Island.