Wediombo Sustainability Karst Ecotourism Development Model in Gunungkidul District at Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY). (ARIS MUNANDAR as Chairman

Abstract

Wediombo Karst is part of Gunung Sewu Mountain Karst Area which had been decided as the world heritage since 1994 by the International Speleology Mac Donald British Cave Research Association. Due to its beautiful land- and seascape panorama, beautiful caves, and unique flora and fauna, this area is potential to be developed as ecotourism area. The objective of this research is to provide a model to develop Wediombo as Karst Ecotourism Area. The research was conducted in 3 steps, i.e. (1) identification of biophysics, socio-economics, socio-culture, legal review, and tourist typology; (2) analysis of demand-supply, cost-benefit priority, and area-zoning; and (3) model development. In identifications step, data was analyzed descriptively. Area-zoning was analyzed using micro-ROS method. Model was developed using AHP and SWOT (AWOT) analysis. The results showed that Wediombo Karst Area has many potential places to be developed as ecotourism area, including beaches, caves, forests, traditional agriculture, and mountain areas. In addition socio-cultural, socio-economics, and legal aspects as well as analysis of tourist typology; demand-supply, cost-benefit priority support the development of karst ecotourism. Micro-ROS analysis shows that Wediombo area spreads over zoning scale 1 to 6, suggesting the natural condition still dominant. Zone development priority analyses suggests that zone A (Wediombo Beach) is the first priority, followed consecutively by zone B (cave and beach), zone E (local culture), zone C (Lowo Cave), zone D (forest area) and zone F (roadside area, stretching from rural boundary to Wediombo Beach). The AWOT analysis shows that Strengths and Threats (S-T) are the main factor for development of strategy. These results suggest that ecotourism development strategy concern in diversification based on local community. The first priority for the development of ecotourism is education tourism, which is expected will derive community awareness on sustainability of the environment including local culture.