Ecotourism management strategy of Kampung Blekok, Situbondo in supporting waterbird habitat conservation

Abstract

Kampung Blekok is a mangrove and waterbird conservation area in Situbondo Regency. This area is unique in that it is inhabited by thousands of waterbirds that colonise the mangrove area of Kampung Blekok. Tourism activities have an impact on the comfort of waterbirds in the area. The purpose of this study is to analyse the ecotourism management implemented in Kampung Blekok in supporting the conservation of waterbirds and to develop ecotourism management strategies in Kampung Blekok to maintain a balance between tourism development and waterbird habitats. The research method used is a qualitative narrative method, with a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) approach. The results of the analysis of ecotourism management in Kampung Blekok were obtained through in-depth interviews, field observations, and literature studies. In narrating the ecotourism management of Kampung Blekok, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was also conducted, involving the community, managers, academics/communities, and the government to absorb the community's aspirations for the future of Kampung Blekok. The results of the study show that the ecotourism management of Kampung Blekok is based on five principles, namely the ecological principle, the community participation principle, the economic principle, the educational principle, and the tourism principle. The management strategy for Kampung Blekok was developed using the SO strategy (Strength–Opportunity), WO strategy (Weakness–Opportunity), ST strategy (Strength–Threat), and WT strategy (Weakness–Threat). It can be concluded that this area has great potential to continue to develop as a conservation-based ecotourism destination.