The Potential of Livelihood Transformation as a Strategy for Ensuring Household Economic Stability in Jikumerasa Village

Abstract

The role of tourism in maintaining economic stability at the household and regional levels is significant. The pursuit of enhanced household income opportunities has prompted individuals to transition their livelihoods from traditional sectors, such as fisheries, agriculture, and trade, to the tourism sector. However, the tourism sector is characterized by inherent challenges, notably its seasonal nature. This is further compounded by a dearth of knowledge concerning the management of tourist attractions among relevant business actors. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the livelihood transformation from agriculture, fisheries, and trade to tourism, this study employed a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. The study was conducted in Jikumerasa Village, Buru Regency, Maluku Province Indonesia, involving informants who had transitioned from agriculture, fisheries, and trade to tourism. A total of 11 individuals were interviewed, including farmers, traders, employees, and fishermen. To enhance the credibility of the findings, a triangulation technique was employed, involving the insights of the village head, community leaders, and the manager of the Baikolet Jikumerasa Beach tourist attraction. The results indicate that the transformation of rural community livelihoods to the tourism sector is a multifaceted process involving economic diversification, social capital development, and cultural preservation. The predominant challenge confronting rural households pertains to the stability of their household economy, particularly with respect to meeting the manifold and evolving needs of their members. For these reasons, the government are suggested to promote community involvement, allocate resources to infrastructure development, and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices. These measures, if implemented, have the potential to unlock the full economic potential of tourism, thereby fostering the development of a resilient and thriving rural economy. To this end, government intervention through programs and policies is imperative, encompassing management training, financing, and promotion, to ensure the economic stability of households and beach attractions is maintained over the long term.Pariwisata memainkan peran penting dalam menjaga kestabilan ekonomi rumahtangga hingga daerah. Tawaran perubahan pendapatan yang lebih baik menyebabkan masyarakat memilih untuk mengalihkan matapencaharian dari sektor perikanan, pertanian hingga perdagangan menuju sektor pariwisata. Walaupun demikian, sektor pariwisata memiliki tantangan tersendiri beruapa sifatnya yang musiman, terlebih pengetahuan terkait pengelola objek wisata belum cukup maksimal dimiliki para pelaku usaha tersebut. Metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan fenomenologi diterapkan dalam penelitian ini guna memperoleh gambaran secara kontekstual dan holistik terkait tranformasi matapencaharian dari pertanian dan perikanan ke pariwisata. Adapun kajian ini dilakukan di Desa Jikumerasa, Kabupaten Buru dengan melibatkan para informan berupa petani, pedagang, pegawai dan nelayan berjumlah 11 orang dengan kriteria berupa telah melakukan alih matapencaharian pada sektor pariwisata. Sedangkan, teknik triangulasi digunakan untuk menguji validitas dan keabsahan data dengan melibatkan kepala desa, tokoh masyarakat dan pengelola objek wisata pantai Baikolet Jikumerasa. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan bahwa, transformasi mata pencaharian masyarakat pedesaan ke sektor pariwisata merupakan proses multifaset yang mencakup diversifikasi ekonomi, pengembangan modal sosial, dan pelestarian budaya. Adapun kestabilan ekonomi rumahtangga berupa pendapatan merupakan isu utama dalam menghadapi pemenuhan kebutuhan hidup yang semakin meningkat dan bervariasi. Pada aras ini, kami berpandangan bahwa dengan mendorong keterlibatan masyarakat, berinvestasi pada infrastruktur, dan mendorong praktik berkelanjutan, daerah pedesaan dapat memanfaatkan potensi pariwisata untuk menciptakan perekonomian yang tangguh dan berkembang. Untuk itu, campur tangan pemerintah melalui program dan kebijakan berupa pelatihan pengelolaan, pembiayaan maupun promosi mutlak diperlukan sehingga kestabilan ekonomi rumahtangga dan objek wisata pantai dapat tetap berkelanjutan.