The Potencies of Cave Geo-Ecotourism Development in Tanjungsari District, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region

Abstract

Tanjungsari is one of the districts in the Gunungsewu Geopark area, Gunungkidul Regency. Since Gunungsewu was declared as a Global Geopark Network area by Unesco, the tourism sector in this area has grown rapidly. Tanjungsari District does not want to be left behind in developing the tourism sector. Therefore it is necessary to trigger the development of tourism. In this district, there are several caves that have the potential to be developed, including Cave Bentar, Cave Cabe, Cave Tritis, Cave Grengseng, and Cave Pakubon, which have their own uniqueness and appeal in terms of morphology, endokarst, and legends. The development of these potential places is expected to be able to improve the economic sector and the welfare of the surrounding community. In order for the caves in Tanjungsari District to be able to compete, the concept of development must be different and not yet developed in other places, namely cave geo-ecotourism. In connection with the above-mentioned matters, research, studies, and feasibility studies are conducted on the potential development of cave geo-ecotourism. The activities carried out include mapping the distribution of geomorphology, geological structures, subsurface conditions, underground water availability using the ERT geoelectric method, and cave tracking. The results of this study are a cave map and an inventory of the potential of the cave.