Abstract:
Tourism is a leading sector in Nawacita and national strategies that concern on development from
the suburbs and villages within the framework of a unitary state, as well as realizing independence
by buiding the strategic domestic economy sectors. One manifestation of higher education
participation in this case is the preparation of local human resources as a manager of their
territorial potential through the program of Desa Binaan (Guided Village). This community service
activity aims to prepare the village of Koto Sentajo as a distingushed tourism destination in form of
traditional village in Riau Province. The empowerment programs are carried out by analyzing the
variety of village tourism resources, preparing the community to be aware of healthy lifestyles and
strengthening the capacity of human resources through coaching and field assistance to community
leaders and tourism activists in Koto Sentajo. The situation analysis found that this traditional
village was characterized by 27 Rumah Godang houses from four tribes who lived, namely the
Melayu Tribe, the Patopang Tribe, the Piliang Tribe, and the Chaniago Tribe, along with their
cultural completeness. Additional attractions are dominated by the Sentajo custom, in the form of
pacu jalur, sosoran pondam pandekar tuah (randai self-defense art), the tradition of eating
together at traditional houses, as well as natural attractions such as plantation areas, rivers, rice
fields, and customary forests that are ready to be developed. The weaknesses were found as the
lack of environmental sanitation, unpreparedness tourist amenities, and monotonous attractions.
Thus, continued assistance is still needed, especially in the development of creative industries and
good tourism services.
