ROCK MASS RATING AND FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT OF KARST CAVE GEO-ECOTOURISM IN TANJUNGSARI DISTRICT, GUNUNGKIDUL REGENCY, YOGYAKARTA SPECIAL REGION, INDONESIA

Abstract

Tanjungsari district, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Territory, is located in the karst geopark area of Gunungsewu, Indonesia. The area is geologically constituted of cavernous limestones, characterized by the existence of subsurface drainage. Since the Gunungsewu area was declared as one of the Unesco Global Geoparks in 2015, the tourism sector of this region has propagated rapidly. Tanjungsari district does not like to be left behind in developing the tourism sector. There are several caves in the district that have the potential to be developed for cave tourism, including Bentar Cave, Cabe Cave, Grengseng Cave, Pakubon Cave, and Tritis Cave, which have their uniqueness and attractiveness in terms of exokarst, endokarst, and legends. The development of these potential sites is expected able to improve the economic sector and welfare of the surrounding community. For the caves in Tanjungsari district competitive, the concept of development must be different from that of other places, it is cave geo-ecotourism. In connection with the matters mentioned above, studies and assessments applying engineering geological, social-economical, and agricultural investigations were conducted to explore the potential and feasibility of cave geo-ecotourism in the Tanjungsari area. Based on the application of cave rock mass rating (CRMR), Bentar Cave has a total score of 69 (Fair), Cabe Cave = 75 (Good), Grengseng Cave = 47 (Poor), Pakubon Cave = 81 (Good), and Tritis Cave = 79 (Good). The results of this study indicate that Bentar Cave has a value of 63.3%, Cabe Cave 50%, Grengseng Cave 66.7%, Pakubon Cave 63.3%, and Tritis Cave 73.3% feasibility or readiness if it will be developed as a geo-eco-cave tourism.