Digital Storytelling and Social Media Management for Garut Sheep Educational Tourism

Abstract

Sindang Ratu Village, located in Wanaraja District, Garut Regency, possesses prime potential in the form of Garut Sheep (Domba Garut), which holds significant economic, cultural, and educational value. However, the utilization of this potential as a tourist attraction still confronts numerous obstacles, particularly regarding digital promotion, community digital literacy, social media management, and destination branding. This community service program aims to enhance community capacity in developing Garut Sheep Educational Tourism (Eduwisata Domba Garut) through digital storytelling and social media management training. The activity involved 24 participants comprising the Garut Sheep breeders' community, village officials, youth, and residents of Sindang Ratu Village. The implementation method encompassed preparation and needs analysis stages, digital storytelling training, social media management training, the establishment and mentoring of a Village Social Media Team, and program evaluation. The results indicated an enhancement in participants' understanding and skills in constructing promotional narratives rooted in local culture, producing digital content utilizing smartphones, managing social media strategically, and analyzing content performance through insights and engagement metrics. Furthermore, the establishment of the Village Social Media Team serves as a vital output supporting the sustainability of digital promotion for Garut Sheep Educational Tourism. This program also catalyzed a shift in community perspectives, viewing Garut Sheep not merely as livestock commodities, but as cultural tourism assets with economic value and destination appeal. Consequently, digital storytelling and social media management training proved to be an effective strategy in strengthening the branding of Garut Sheep Educational Tourism and supporting community-based tourism development alongside community empowerment in the digital era.