The development potential level of Bagan Serdang mangrove ecotourism, Pantai Labu Subdistrict

Abstract

Ecotourism is a type of ethical travel that preserves the natural environment while also benefiting the local community culturally, socially, and economically if implemented correctly. Ecotourism in the Bagan Serdang mangrove forest was initiated in 2018 as an effort to make this area as one of the leading tourism alternatives with mangrove-based edu-tourism Recently, the condition of mangrove vegetation is degraded in several spots, facilities and infrastructure are neglected and even damaged, and accessibility is not optimal. These, on the other hand, are some of the factors that must be considered for the feasibility of developing ecotourism in mangrove areas. This research aims to identify the development potential level of Bagan Serdang mangrove ecotourism. Data collecting was done through the field observation and the potency of ecotourism development was measured based on ADO-ODTWA guidebook from Indonesian Forestry Department. The attraction of Bagan Serdang mangrove ecotourism had a moderate potential level with 21 species of vegetation and 9 species of fauna. Accessibility and accommodation had a low potential level, whereas facilities and infrastructures had a high potential level. The low potential criteria were suggested to be priority in the ecotourism development of Bagan Serdang.