Development of eco-culture tourism in Burung Island and Suwangi Island in South Kalimantan

Abstract

Ecotourism is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist attraction. South Kalimantan is not one of the top ten tourist destinations, but the province ranked 15th in terms of the number of trips taken by Indonesian tourists in 2017. Tanah Bumbu Regional Government in South Kalimantan intends to promote ecotourism on its land. This study reveals local government initiatives to build and develop natural tourism in the natural tourism potential of Burung Island and Suwangi Island in Tanah Bumbu District using a qualitative approach and data collection techniques through interviews, field observations, and literature studies. Respondents include members of the community, community leaders, village government, and local government. The scope of the study includes the actual conditions on Burung Island and Suwangi Island, the potential for nature tourism, and the development of the tourism concept. The findings reveal that Burung Island and Suwangi Island, which are part of Selat Laut Nature Reserve, have deteriorated. On the other hand, there are interesting objects that have abundant potencies for natural tourism, such as the spectrum of regional ecosystems from lowland rain forests, mangrove forests, and coastal forests; traditions in the form of traditional ceremonies; fauna of birds and proboscis monkeys; and man-made products such as durian gardens and seed nurseries as educational components. As a result, both Burung Island and Suwangi Island have the potencies to become natural tourism parks. Natural tourism development can provide an opportunity for alternative solutions to the problems of degraded conservation areas through field discoveries.