The Development of an Edu-agrotourism Concept in the Buffer Zone of Conservation Area Based on Education and Local Community Empowerment

Abstract

Edu-agrotourism is the optimal use of biodiversity and increasing global awareness of nature conservation, socio-cultural and economic empowerment of local communities, and aspects of learning and education. Developing an edu-agrotourism area requires a strategy based on empowering local communities and being a solution for the economic transformation of rural communities around forests. The study aims to collect potential resources that include landscapes, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and local wisdom as edu-agrotourism products and examine forms of business and markets to determine development strategies that involve the community. The method used is descriptive qualitative through interviews, observation, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD), as well as a SWOT analysis to determine the development strategy. The results of the study show that edu-agro-tourism products (landscape, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and local wisdom) and forms of business opportunities and local markets, as well as SO development strategies, utilize potential strengths in the form of resources and community support to seize opportunities while minimizing existing weaknesses, especially infrastructure development and promotion. Thus, the development of edu-agro-tourism is a multi-stakeholder activity influenced by various aspects (economic development, social, culture, environment, human resources, and infrastructure). The implications of the research are (1) regional arrangement in the concept of sustainability, (2) business management development, (3) development of promotion and marketing, and (4) regulation development.