Strategi Pengembangan Hutan Mangrove Berbasis Ekowisata Di Desa Margasari Kabupaten Lampung Timur

Abstract

The tourism sector is an important aspect of community development. The contribution of tourism is quite large, making this sector one of the mainstay sectors in increasing the country's development. East Lampung Regency has many tourist objects and potential, one of which is interesting to study is tourism in Margasari Village, Labuhan Maringgai District. Tourism in Margasari Village is interesting because it uses the concept of ecotourism in mangrove forest conservation areas. Ecotourism is an alternative for community development which combines natural beauty and environmental education in order to produce real and positive added value for environmental conservation and local culture activities so as to improve community welfare. Therefore, this study aims to determine the form of ecotourism development strategy in Margasari Village. This research method uses a descriptive qualitative approach. The data obtained using data from interviews, observations and documentation. The results showed that the strategy of developing ecotourism in the mangrove forest of Margasari Village, which was in accordance with the principles of community-based ecotourism development proposed by Fandeli (Arinda, 2017: 22), namely the principles of ecotourism development, 1) Preventing and overcoming the impact of tourist activities on nature and culture. 2) Environmental conservation education. 3) Direct revenue for the area. 4) Community participation in ecotourism planning and management. 5) Community income. 6) Maintain harmony with nature. 7) Environmental carrying capacity. 8) Income opportunities in a large portion of the country. There are still obstacles and problems in the development of mangrove forest ecotourism in Margasari Village, such as, 1) Promotion of tourism and community handcraft products, 2) Limited management resources, and 3) The Covid-19 pandemic condition which hampers ecotourism planning and management.