Studi Eksplorasi Potensi Pariwisata Kreatif Kawasan Hutan Mangrove Desa Sedari, Kecamatan Cibuaya, Kabupaten Karawang, Jawa Barat

Sari

Abstrak

Pariwisata kreatif merupakan bentuk pariwisata alternatif yang prospektif untuk dikembangkan di Desa Sedari. Penelitian yang ada menunjukkan bahwa daya tarik utama kawasan hutan mangrove selama ini semata pemandangan yang cenderung tidak melibatkan partisipasi dan pengalaman wisatawan dalam kegiatan pariwisata. Hal ini mengindikasikan potensi yang ada belum sepenuhnya termanfaatkan optimal. Terlebih kegiatan pariwisata ditunda dan dihentikan sementara dengan adanya Pemberlakuan Pembatasan Kegiatan Masyarakat (PPKM) untuk mencegah meluasnya penyebaran pandemi COVID-19. Tujuan penelitian ini mengeksplorasi potensi pariwisata kreatif kawasan hutan mangrove di Desa Sedari, Kecamatan Cibuaya, Kabupaten Karawang, Provinsi Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif dengan pendekatan eksploratif. Data primer dan sekunder diperoleh melalui wawancara serta studi pustaka. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa (1) Hutan mangrove Desa Sedari memiliki potensi untuk pengembangan pariwisata kreatif; (2) Pengembangan ke arah pariwisata kreatif baru dimulai pada tahun 2021 namun belum terlaksana optimal dimana belum ada pengelolaan, pengelola maupun program yang terencana baik. (3) Bentuk pariwisata kreatif yang dapat dikembangkan di kawasan hutan mangrove, diantaranya birdwatching, pengolahan produk berbasis mangrove, maupun kegiatan wisata yang melibatkan partisipasi aktif wisatawan, juga kerjasama wisatawan dengan masyarakat lokal dan pengelola kawasan hutan mangrove. Penelitian ini merekomendasikan dilakukannya renovasi dan revitalisasi sejumlah infrastruktur fisik kawasan hutan mangrove untuk pengembangan kegiatan pariwisata kreatif, peningkatan kompetensi dan kualifikasi sumber daya manusia pariwisata serta penguatan kemitraan kerja diantara para pemangku kepentingan terkait.

Kata Kunci: pariwisata kreatif, partisipasi aktif, hutan mangrove, desa sedari, pandemi COVID-19

Explorative Study of the Creative Tourism Potential of the Mangrove Forest Area

Sedari Village, Cibuaya District, Karawang Regency, West Java

Abstract

Creative tourism is an alternative tourism that is prospective to be developed in Sedari Village. Existing research shows that the main tourist attraction of mangrove forest area in Sedari Village so far is mere the scenery which tends not to involve the participation and experience of tourists within the tourism activities. This indicates that the existing potential has not yet fully utilized. Moreover, tourism activities were temporarily postponed and stopped during the Public Activity Restrictions (PPKM) that carried out to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore the creative tourism potential of mangrove forest area in Sedari Village, Cibuaya District, Karawang Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. This study utilised descriptive research method with exploratory approach. Primary and secondary data were obtained through interviews and literature study. This study found that (1) The mangrove forest of Sedari Village has the potential for the development of creative tourism; (2) Development towards creative tourism has not yet optimally implemented. It was just started in 2021 that there are no well-planned programs, managers nor management. At present; (3) Types of creative tourism can be developed in Sedari mangrove forest areas, including birdwatching, processing mangrove based tourism products; tourism activities involving tourist active participation, as well as tourist cooperation with local communities and mangrove forest area managers. This study recommends for the renovation and revitalization of a number of physical infrastructures for the development of creative tourism activities; the enhancement of tourism human resources qualifications and competencies; as well as strengthening the working partnership amongst relevant stakeholders.

Keywords: creative tourism, active participation, mangrove forest, sedari village, pandemic COVID-19