COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANGROVE TOURISM IN BATU KARAS OF PANGANDARAN, WEST JAVA

Abstract

This article discusses community empowerment activities in coastal areas whose citizens experience poverty problems. The problem that arises in Batu Karas Village is the lack of development and the lack of empowerment of the surrounding community. Mangrove tourism is open enough to be used as a field for economic improvement for mangrove tourism-based communities. Batu Karas Village has a strategic coastal area. However, the conditions in Batu Karas Village have some things that cause socio-cultural aspects and sociological aspects that cannot be considered so that it needs the development and empowerment of various aspects, both from the local government and other interested parties. The purpose of this research is to find out the model carried out by the local community in the effort to develop mangrove tourism in Batu Karas Village, find out what strategies the local government should carry out, and find out what the government implements in developing and empowering the community in the field of mangrove tourism. This research uses the theory of community empowerment, which is a series of activities to strengthen the power or empowerment of weak groups and communities, including individuals who experience poverty. In this study, the researchers used qualitative methods. Information regarding research is obtained from data collection techniques of observation, interviews, and documentation, as well as other methods related to research studies. This research found that community empowerment and development in tourism is said to be sufficient to have an impact on the economic level of rural tourism communities, especially in the presence of support from the local government and related parties who pay more attention to the mangrove area.

Keywords

• ecological awareness
• social empowerment
• mangrove tourism
• west java