- Author: Heru Ryanto Budiana
- From: Prodi Humas Fakultas Ilmu Komunikasi Unpad
Abstract:
Ecotourism is currently being prioritized by the government of West Bandung Regency. Natural landscape potential empowered with social values and local Sundanese wisdom serve as the primary capital for developing ecotourism in the region. Fundamentally, the practice of ecotourism offers simplicity, preserving natural environments and surroundings while also conserving originality in culture, customs, and way of life. This creates peace and serenity within the ecosystem, preserving natural flora and fauna, allowing balance on human life with its natural surroundings. Blessed with natural and local wisdom as valuable assets, it is expected for this region to thrive in developing and optimizing ecotourism, specifically for the government of West Bandung Regency. As the policy maker, the government need to add values while preserving natural and cultural resources in practicing ecotourism. Placing the spotlight at the prospects and challenges of developing ecotourism in West Bandung Regency is the purpose of this study. With an emphasize on local wisdom of Sundanese culture, this paper elaborately explains such prospects and challenges and how it would contribute to the development of the region. Using descriptive approach with qualitative data to extract data, this study compares the finding with references from various literature studies relevant to the matter. Secondary data was obtained from field studies towards the research object, based on the researcher point of view. Data was collected, reduced, classified, displayed, and utilized to draw conclusions on the topics of this study.
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