Socio-Economic Feasibility Analysis of Babana Mangrove Tourism, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems offer significant ecological and economic benefits, making them ideal for sustainable ecotourism development. This study assessed the social and economic feasibility of developing mangrove ecotourism in the Babana coastal area, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi, an area with ecological significance and community-based tourism potential. Using a quantitative descriptive approach, data were collected from 100 local respondents through structured questionnaires and analyzed via Likert scale-based scoring. The analysis of social feasibility encompasses key dimensions such as community acceptance of mangrove ecotourism development, public health conditions, educational background, and the state of environmental security. The results reveal that the education and social aspects are relatively feasible. While the economic, health, and environmental security dimensions remain weak, highlighting critical challenges in community readiness, infrastructure, and environmental resilience. The findings underscore the need for integrated strategies encompassing capacity building, health and environmental education, improved local governance, and inclusive economic empowerment to support the sustainable development of mangrove ecotourism in the region.