STRATEGI PENGEMBANGANEKOWISATA BERBASIS MASYARAKATDI DISTRIK MEOS MANSAR KABUPATEN RAJA AMPAT
Special Autonomy in West Papua Province offers strategic opportunities
for the acceleration of local community-based development. The program provide
Local Government with great autonomy to explore local resources to improve the
local community welfare, including through ecotourism development. Therefore,
the purpose of this study is to find out ecotourism development strategies in Raja
Ampat Regency, West Papua Province.
The study was conducted by using a descriptive qualitative method with a
case study approach. Locactions of the study were five villages, i.e. Yenbuba, Sawinggrai,
Saundarek, Yenwaupnor, and Arborek in Meos Mansar District, Raja
Ampat Regency. Data used in the study were primary data obtained by using interview,
while secondary data obtained by using documentary technique. The data
collected were analyzed by using the SWOT-based qualitative technique.
Result of the study indicates that Raja Ampat Regency has great potentials
to be developed as ecotourism object and attraction. The dimension of SWOT in
ecotourism development in the five villages of Meos Mansar District Raja Ampat
Regency with the highest score was Opportunity (5,142), followed by Strenght
(4,025), Weakness (3,586), and Threat (3,496). Based on the results, Government
of Raja Ampat Regency should emphasize Strenght and Opportunity Dimensions
with the highest scores as the main bases of the ecotourism development strategy
formulation. The priorities of the tourism development performed by Government,
particularly in the five tourism villages of Meos Mansar District, were as follows:
to issue policy and regulation on the utilization of protected or conservation forest
resource through ecotourism investment, which is simultaneously performed with
marine ecotourism and based on governmentâ��s commitment to vision, mission,
and natural tourism development strategy. Priority was also given to utilization of
see grass and coral reefs in coastal environment, mangrove forest area around the
five villages for the beauty of coastal nature, and the interesting plain islands to
tract while enjoying the natural panorama and traditional settlement as ecotourism
object and attraction. Finally, government should also intensify the development
of ecotourism together with local community to maintain mangrove forest around
the five villages and did not log them.