Strategies for Developing Agro-Tourism Areas and Community Empowerment Based on the Advantages of Local Resources in the Taba Penanjung District, Central Bengkulu Regency

Abstract

Agro-tourism is an agriculture-based business that is open to the public. Developing agro-tourism based on regional advantages is a promising prospect for improving a region's economy. By synergizing all available resources and empowering the community to manage agro-tourism, the economy in Taba Penanjung district can be improved. This study aimed to determine the strategy for developing integrated commodity-based agro-tourism in Taba Penanjung district, Central Bengkulu Regency. The research was conducted in Taba Penanjung district, considering that this area has strategic agricultural and agro-tourism potential in Bengkulu Province. The respondents in this study were 20 community leaders, village officials, agro-tourism managers, and youth members of youth organizations. This study uses SWOT analysis to create a development strategy. The results of this study are: 1) The results of the IFAS calculation get a total weight value of 2.852, and the EFAS calculation gets a total weight value of 2.576 2) In the IE matrix, the agro-tourism area in Taba Penanjung district is in quadrant V which means this agro-tourism area is in medium position with a strategy that can be implemented, namely to hold and maintain because Taba Penanjung district have good internal strength and external opportunities.