The best natural resource management will have a positive impact on the Papuan people. One way to do this is through the Ecotourism program. The aim is to support the broad protection of the forest, marine, and natural ecosystems surrounding West Papua. So, how about the development of sustainable Ecotourism? Here are some details about ecotourism.
Criteria for Ecotourism
As the name implies, the central concept of ecotourism is tourism that expends special attention to the natural environment and local indigenous people. The limited number of facilities in accommodation, tourist infrastructure, and environmentally friendly operations minimizes negative impacts significantly on the environment.
For these reasons, social projects that support local businesses will positively impact tourism in Papua. Specific criteria against the current situation can be carried out to ensure tremendous success for companies that wish to follow a sustainable path of ecotourism following the basic principles used.
Understanding Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism
The term ecotourism does have an endless discussion. However, this term was first introduced in 1960 to represent all types of protected tourism. Then in 1990, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defined that the term ecotourism is a responsibility to natural areas that preserve the environment to improve the welfare of local communities.
In other words, this concept is tourism that thoroughly analyzes the current and future social, economic, and environmental impacts in West Papua. It can meet the needs of many parties – visitors, industry, environment, and host location. As a result, the Ecotourism program provides a better place to live for the community.
Developing tourism in Papua is not an easy matter to practice. In fact, there is a wide variety of potential natural beauty available in the oceans, lands, and mountains. However, Papua is inhabited by many tribes that spread widely throughout the island. The development of ecotourism must be carried out under the primary concept, namely cooperating with the community.
The government must support the ecotourism program to make it happen. For this reason, the empowerment of local communities is a stage that must be appropriately implemented. Therefore, the involvement of the government, the surrounding community, and other parties must also help each other make it happen.
As is well known, ecotourism is a tourist trip made to natural places to protect nature. In addition, this is also done to maintain social, economic sustainability and ensure the welfare of local communities in West Papua. As a result, this will create knowledge and understanding because it has provided education for all involved.
For example, general tourists always leave an excellent impression of protecting nature when visiting a conservation center area in Papua. If you are going up the mountain, tourists must go down by collecting scattered garbage. Likewise, when traveling to the sea area, tourists must maintain the environment in an orderly manner.
In addition, if a tourist attraction wants to be developed with the concept of ecotourism, then tourists must involve themselves in interacting with the surrounding community. This social interaction will provide significant benefits for both tourists and residents. So, try to form programs and habits so that tourists are accustomed to never damaging themselves when in the forest or at sea.
Applied Principle
In implementing the concept of ecotourism in a tourism area in Papua, several principles must be applied in practice. Some of the essential aspects include tourism, education, conservation, society, and the economy. All of these things must be considered if you want to realize sustainable tourism development with the concept of ecotourism in West Papua.
1. Travel
As is well known, several principles must be applied if you want to realize Papua with the concept of ecotourism. One of the essential things that can be applied is the principle of tourism. So, it is important to strive for a sense of comfort, safety, satisfaction, and a valuable experience for tourists who come to visit.
2. Education
The principle of ecotourism cannot be done carelessly. To provide results that match expectations, education is an essential aspect. It is done to increase awareness and appreciation of nature. Most importantly, it provides knowledge for visitors, the community, and related parties in developing tourism.
3. Conservation
Conservation is an important aspect that should be considered a form of concern, responsibility, and contribution to nature conservation. Indirectly, conservation also supports cultural preservation and minimizes negative impacts on the environment and the surrounding community.
4. Community Engagement
To support all ecotourism development programs, involving the community is essential. It will provide opportunities and opportunities for community participation. From an economic point of view, ecotourism will offer maximum benefits to the local community and prevent negative things to the environment in West Papua.
Seeing the details of these principles, the application of the concept of ecotourism must be carried out with great care for the parties concerned. It also focuses on the situation and condition of the tourism object to be developed. In other words, there are three main points in ecotourism, namely, nature conservation, local communities, and environmental awareness.
