Article
Pengelolaan Ekowisata Maritim Meleura Berbasis Masyarakat Lokal di Desa Lakarinta Kecamatan Lohia Kabupaten Muna
ETNOREFLIKA : Jurnal Sosial dan Budaya, Vol. 12 No. 2 (2023), hlm. 335–348
Abstrak
The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the community-based management of Meleura maritime ecotourism in Lakarinta Village, as well as to describe the efforts of the local community in developing and promoting Meleura as a community-based ecotourism destination in Lakarinta Village. This study applies the theory of The Tourist Qualities of a Destination proposed by Burkart and Medlik (1976) and employs a qualitative descriptive ethnographic method. The findings indicate that the management of Meleura tourism necessarily involves community members who have the potential to contribute to tourism development, particularly in the coastal tourism sector of Meleura Beach. The management of tourism facilities and infrastructure plays an important role in the development of a tourism destination, in which local community involvement, especially that of young people, is essential for supporting and advancing ecotourism initiatives. Following its official inauguration by the Head of the Tourism Office in 2014, Meleura Beach was formally designated as one of the tourism destinations in Muna Regency. The development of Meleura ecotourism has shown a considerable increase, as Meleura has become widely recognized by the public, particularly among tourists, including both domestic and international visitors. The development of Meleura tourism is closely linked to strategies formulated by the village government with the aim of strengthening the tourism sector as a leading sector. Over time, Meleura tourism has continued to grow, supported by the provision of various facilities and infrastructure by the management, such as gazebos, toilets, parking areas, and food stalls, which help to meet the needs of visitors.