Analysis of the paddy fields to support community and tourism activities in Ciemas District, Indonesia

Abstract

Ciletuh Geopark Tourism Area (UNESCO Global Geopark Ciletuh Palabuhanratu) is now one of the main tourist attractions in the Sukabumi Regency, West Java province of Indonesia. The geopark area is in the Ciemas District. Based on the Regional Spatial Planning of the Sukabumi Regency, the Ciemas District is designated as the center of the agricultural sector activities for paddy rice plants in the Sukabumi District. Through the development of tourism activities, Ciletuh Palabuhanratu Geopark will undoubtedly threaten the rice farming sector in the area. In the disruption era, as technology changes, information and knowledge become more accessible. The development of these tourism activities will grow faster in Ciemas District, causing many changes, especially in physical space and regional economics. One change would be in the rice fields in this area, which has been transformed into built-in land in villas, inns, and homestays. If this is allowed, then the function of the sustainability of agricultural activities in the Ciemas District will be threatened. For this reason, control efforts are needed so that paddy fields that must be maintained do not change function quickly. This study analyzes the land use and land cover for paddy fields in Ciemas District. The method of this study is the quantitative method. The analytical methods include population projection, ArcGIS analysis, and Land Potential Index. The findings contribute to supporting the development of tourism while maintaining food security. The results indicate that there are protected areas from being prioritized, which are not prioritized for paddy fields, can be used for the development of tourism activities. Thus, this can be used as a source for the government to make policies for fulfilling food requirements and developing tourism activities in the region.