The Role of Stakeholders in the Development of Mangrove Eco-Tourism at Blekok Tourism Village, Situbondo, East Java

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyze the role of stakeholders in the development of mangrove ecotourism and emphasized on the role of relevant stakeholders are government, business, community, academia, and media, but not optimal in the media. This study uses a qualitative descriptive analysis method, the data obtained from observation, interviews, and literature study. The informants in this study were the Environmental Service of Situbondo Regency, the Village Head of Blekok Tourism Village, local communities, tourism entrepreneurs, and visitors. This study has a concept that is the role of ecotourism, tourism development, Tourism Village, and Pentahelix tourism stakeholders. The results of this study indicate that the development of ecotourism in the Tourism Village of Blekok Tourism Village is developing in a fluctuating manner. The number of visitors increased until 2019 and decreased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, tourism attractions in Blekok Village are very diverse, from shell crafts which are supported by easy accessibility to mangroves, tourism facilities that attract visitors, and tourism institutions in Blekok Village taking part in making tourism development policies. The tourism management of Blekok Tourism Village is successful with collaboration from stakeholders, but there is one role that does not cooperate in the field of mass media, according to the Penta helix concept and there are also tourism problems, especially in the physical environment due to tourism activities. There are changes in physical conditions that occur in the mangrove area including garbage.