PLANNING SEAWEED FARMING BASED ECOTOURISM: A TOURISM SPECTRUM APPROACH IN BANTAENG REGENCY, INDONESIA

Ecotourism allows tourism policymakers and the community to manage nature-based tourism. However, although ecotourism is a promising idea or concept, this opportunity is only partially a reality. It requires a particular study relative to the current conditions of the destination and other aspects that can support the implementation of ecotourism. The objectives of this study are to 1) examine the opportunities for implementing ecotourism in a coastal area, Bantaeng regency of Indonesia; 2) analyse the environmental impacts resulting from seaweed-farming activities and their relation to tourism. This research, conducted in June 2020, applies a qualitative method. Data-collection methods included interviews with seaweed farmers, field notes (observation) and a review of published information online. This study utilises the tourism opportunity spectrum (TOS) in analysing the current conditions in the research location. The results showed that floods caused crop failure, prompting the need for alternative income for the community to survive. Ecotourism can represent an opportunity for seaweed-farming communities if on-site management factors and goals are applied with the principle of sustainability. This study found that TOS helps understand the impact resulting from the activities of the seaweed-farming community in Bantaeng regency—the use of massive numbers of plastic bottles as floats conflicts with the principle of ecotourism. The TOS approach views ecotourism planners, including the government and the tourism industry, as being able to open educational opportunities for the community and visitors.