Eco-spiritual tourism as alternative tourism in Taro Village: Opportunity and challenge

L.K Herindiyah Kartika Yuni,I Wayan Arta Artana

doi:10.31940/jasth.v4i2.67-76

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the opportunities and challenges faced by Taro Village in developing eco-spiritual tourism. The data in this study were collected through observation, interviews with key informants determined based on purposive sampling and documentation. The data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis to obtain a complete picture of the opportunities and challenges faced by Taro Village as a village that develops eco-spiritual tourism. There are various opportunities that have been empowered such as high visits to several objects, support from the government and local communities as religious communities who uphold the sacred value of nature, and the attention of educational institutions realized through training to improve human resources. However, Taro Village still faces various challenges in its development such as the community does not have the same understanding of the vision of the Eco-spiritual village, community involvement has not been maximized because the majority of the community are farmers and consider tourism as a side job, weather with quite high rainfall often hampers tourist activities, which are mostly conducted in the open space, such as activities in traditional villages, in particular "metekap", "melukat", and firefly attractions. From these opportunities and challenges, it can be suggested that Taro Village should identify and evaluate opportunities and challenges on a regular basis, determine the target market with certain demographic characteristics, learning from competitors to improve product quality to compete, Preserving the quality of nature and the readiness of human resources in sustainable tourism in Taro Village.

Highlights

WTO (1999) in (Pitana & Diarta, 2009)stated that tourism is a human activity that travels to and lives in destination outside of their daily environment
This study aims to analyze the opportunities and challenges faced by Taro Village in developing eco-spiritual tourism
Based on the religious values adopted by the community, this village develops types of tourism that is responsible for nature includes: White ox tourist attraction, Delod Sema traditional village, “Penglukatan Semara Ratih”, and firefly conservation tourism objects

Summary

Introduction

WTO (1999) in (Pitana & Diarta, 2009)stated that tourism is a human activity that travels to and lives in destination outside of their daily environment. Seen from a broader perspective of life, tourism has enormous potential in strengthening and improving the quality of relations between humans and between nations It results to mutual understanding and better social cohesion, mutual respect, friendship, solidarity, and nationalism which can be established to world peace level. The increasing level of education of the world's population, especially in major tourism areas, and the effects of globalization have led to an increase in people's interest in foreign cultures, and in local heritage. This encourages a process of localization, which is manifested in the fact that local communities seek to create new identities, serve, and promote their own heritage. The development of new identities, images, as well as the preservation and promotion of languages, traditions, and other characteristics of local communities are created to establish quality tourism products (Jovicic, 2016)

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Conclusion