VOLCANO TOURISM IN VOLCANIC RISK AREAS: EXPLORATION OF THE HIGHER EXPERIENCE IN MOUNT SEMERU – INDONESIA

Abstract

Volcano tourism is a part of ecotourism or geotourism in developed and developing countries. The visitors or tourists in this kind of tourism immerse themselves in the bodily enjoyment of feeling and sensing the volcano's high elevation instead of viewing its beauty. The present article aims to explore tourists' subjective experiences of being at a high altitude by taking the case of Mount Semeru tourists. The tourist attraction of Mount Semeru as a volcanic mountain has a selling point and appeal for climbing but with threats and risks. This research explores and reveals the meaning of hiking trips and the manifestation of fear during trips in risky areas. The existential-phenomenological approach examines multifaceted phenomena from an individual’s point of view. Informants were determined by using a purposive sampling technique. In this phenomenological study, researchers look for information (individuals) who have the capability so they can articulate their life experiences related to the phenomenon under study. This study’s results describe the experience of climbers enjoying the journey through struggles and successes by interpreting the phenomena during the ascent and the anticipatory attitude of climbers toward facing the threats and risks of climbing Mount Semeru.

Keywords

• volcanic mountain tourism
• meaning of climbing experience
• risk tourism
• semeru mountain
• higher experience