The policy plan of ecotourism development of Sakjan Lake for economic empowerment of buffering rural community in the Meru Betiri National Park Jember Indonesia

Abstract

Meru Betiri National Park is a conservation area for the biodiversity of flora and fauna. In the implementation, conservation activities should provide economic benefits for the buffer community to build participation in conservation activities. This study aims to find out a policy plan for developing the ecotourism destination of Sakjan Lake in Meru Betiri National Park Jember. The analysis uses the Tinbergen Rule with consideration of endogenous and exogenous variables in achieving the final goal of community empowerment of buffer villages without neglecting the nature conservation in the Meru Betiri National Park. The results show that policy plans consist of zoning changes to the location of Sakjan Lake, maximum protection of natural preservation, tourist safety, community empowerment with a participatory approach, keeping off ecotourism paradoxes and determining a proper strategy for ecotourism development. Ecotourism activities of Sakjan Lake should be directed to the economic improvement of the local community without breaking the regulation related to the existence of Meru Betiri National Park and safety attention for visitors, so that ecotourism activities are not only for income generating but also for nature and environmental conservation.