Social and Economic Impacts of Ecotourism Development on Local Communities in Coastal Tourism Areas
Keywords:
Community Empowerment, Ecotourism, Bangka Island, Local Economic Development, Social Participation, Environmental SustainabilityAbstract
Purpose – This study investigates the nature and extent of community empowerment in the development of ecotourism on Bangka Island. While ecotourism has been promoted as a tool for regional development, empowerment remains limited and largely symbolic, lacking comprehensive benefits across physical, economic, and social dimensions. The study aims to explore local residents' perspectives to better understand the real impact of empowerment efforts and identify areas for improvement.
Design/methods/approach – A quantitative research design was employed by distributing a structured questionnaire consisting of 15 questions to local residents around the ecotourism sites on Bangka Island. The data collected was analyzed to assess perceptions of empowerment, economic benefits, and community involvement in ecotourism development.
Findings – Results indicate that empowerment is perceived as pseudo and limited despite support stemming from non-economic benefits such as environmental preservation and cultural pride. Economic gains for the community are minimal and unevenly distributed, with participation mostly dominated by local elites and existing institutions. However, there is a strong community support for the continuation and development of ecotourism, accompanied by hopeful expectations of future benefits.
Research implications/limitations – The study’s findings are constrained by focusing only on residents' perspectives and excluding views from managers and policymakers. Further research is recommended to incorporate these stakeholders and to statistically measure the impact of ecotourism on local economic activities such as home industries and vulnerable groups like housewives and persons with disabilities.
Originality/value – This research highlights the gap between the potential and actual empowerment in ecotourism development, emphasizing the need for inclusive approaches that integrate economic, physical, and social empowerment. It provides a foundation for developing more effective community empowerment strategies in ecotourism contexts and calls for expanded future research on policymaker and manager roles.
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