Has The Potential Of Religious History Tourism, Villages In Nagekeo Need Internet Support

One of the spiritual tourist spots left by the Portuguese in Degalea Village. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Residents of Degalea Village in Nangaroro District, Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) asked for internet network support to promote the potential of spiritual tourism in the local area.

"There are traces of the Portuguese heritage in Lena since 1576 which has become an icon of spiritual tourism. We need internet network support so that the promotion can continue," said community leader of Degalea Village, Didakus Meo, quoted by Antara, Sunday, March 27.

According to him, the village government has difficulty promoting tourism potential and other existing potentials because of difficulties in accessing the internet network. Whereas the need for the internet is very high to support all access to information for the public.

According to him, historical records provide evidence that Portuguese Missionaries from the Dominican Monastery came to Indonesia in 1513 in Malacca. Then the Missionaries built a church on Lena Hill (Degalea) around the 1960s.

From that church, the Missionaries began to carry out religious services in the Nagekeo area to the Ngada area. For this reason, an internet network is needed to promote this spiritual pilgrimage; Lena has kept traces of the spread of Catholicism on the mainland of Flores. The Head of Degalea Village, Adrianus Pati, conveyed the same thing.

He said the presence of the internet can attract tourists to visit. Thus, there is a turnaround in the community's economy as a result of tourist visits.

Adrianus explained that traces of Portuguese heritage still exist in Lena, such as some of the congregation's seats and altars. To support the spiritual tourism that has been formed, they also built a cave and several lopo (shade places) to relax.

This spiritual tourism location is above the peak of Degalea Village which can be seen from the direction of Nangaroro, Ende as well as from the Ndora and Kotaeo areas. The distance to the tourist site is about 800 meters from the main road with beautiful views and cool air.

He hopes that the government can pay attention to the potential of the area by providing an adequate internet network for increased promotion. In addition, road access from Woewutu Village to Degalea must also be considered so that tourists from Ende can arrive at Lena more quickly.

"If there is an internet network, the promotion will definitely run, then there will be tourist visits and an economic cycle running here," closed Adrianus.