Social Media as a Tool of Tourism Sectors Diplomacy in Sembalun Village

Abstract

The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a fairly serious impact, especially in the economic field of the tourism sector without exception, what happened in Sembalun Village is one of the tourism sectors in East Lombok. In this case, this study aims to determine the use of social media in an effort to recover the tourism sector economy in Sembalun Village during the Covid-19 period by using the concept of international communication and to find out the advantages and disadvantages of using it. A descriptive qualitative research method with primary and secondary data is used in this study. The data analysis technique was carried out through four stages in the form of collecting, reducing, presenting and verifying data. As for the results of the study, it was found that the use of social media had considerable power to introduce tourism in Sembalun Village to international circles with the help of young people and the cooperation that existed in the area. Thus, the economy in the tourism sector can be helped to survive during the Covid-19 period. On the other hand, international circles can get to know more about tourism in Sembalun Village through social media. However, visits to these sectors can only be carried out after the end of the pandemic period due to concerns and government regulations that prevent such departures.

Keywords: Sembalun Village, Social Media, Tourism Sector, Economy