Visiting Nusa Village. Nusa is one of the villages in Aceh that continues to develop community-based tourism. The local potential is continuously crafted into various tourist attractions with the main goal of improving the local economy and preserving environmental sustainability.

The Research Center for Social and Cultural Studies (PRISB) at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) collaborated with the Department of Aceh Transportation Office and the Department of Culture and Tourism Office to organize a cultural exploration activity. The goal was to help students gain a better understanding of various places and cultural sites in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar. This activity was part of a history and culture tour scheduled for Sunday, May 7, 2023. Several students who volunteered at PRISB and were interested in learning about Aceh’s history and culture participated in this full-day event. They were accompanied by researchers from PRISB USK, namely Uswatun Nisa, M.A., and Mukhrijal, M.IP.

Dr Alfi Rahman, the Director of PRISB USK, stated that this is the first tour organized by PRISB, with plans for more activities in the future. Alfi appreciated the students who participated in this event, noting that only a few Acehnese students are interested in their history. He further explained that today’s young generation often perceives history as outdated and irrelevant, resulting in a need for more awareness about the history and culture of Aceh among the younger generation.

Moreover, Uswatun Nisa, a researcher from PRISB who participated in the activity, stressed the need to regularly organize such events for the younger generation. She highlighted that young people nowadays are more acquainted with cultures from other countries rather than their own Acehnese culture. Nisa explained that this is due to the overwhelming presence of foreign cultural content on social media. Additionally, she mentioned that they often watch films from different regions or countries, which contributes to their greater familiarity with those places compared to their own region.

“Activities like this serve as effective means to introduce Aceh’s historical and cultural sites. Highly engaged students on social media will likely share stories, reels, and content about their visits to these historical sites. This activity indirectly promotes Aceh to a wider audience,” Nisa commented.

Yudhi, from the Department of Culture and Tourism office, expressed admiration for the students who joined the tour. He emphasized the importance of students learning about Aceh’s history and culture because they have a responsibility to preserve this valuable heritage.

“Hopefully, this tour can serve as a reference to inspire others and instil a love for history so that future generations do not forget the achievements of Aceh,” added Yudhi, who also served as a tour guide for this activity.

Rara, one of the participating students, expressed her enthusiasm for the history and culture tour. This activity was highly impactful for those interested in learning about Aceh’s culture and history.

“This tour provided me with a wealth of new lessons and insights. In the past, when I visited cultural sites, it was mainly for sightseeing. However, today was different. With direct guidance from the Tourism Office, we received explanations about every corner of the places we visited,” said Rara.

The tour commenced with a visit to the Aceh Museum, followed by stops at Rumoh Aceh, Makan Sultan Iskandar Muda, Guanongan, Kupiah Meukutop Mosque, Rumoh Cut Nyak Dhien, Lambanana Food Market, Gampong Nusa, Keude Bieng Handicraft, and concluded with a visit to Lampuuk.