Coastal areas in West Papua have natural and cultural potential to develop as new destinations for marine ecotourism. Besides Raja Ampat, there are many locations that have the potential to be the best tourist areas, such as Kampung Malaumkarta. In this case, the government and various parties are trying to improve supporting facilities and the quality of human resources.
Ecotourism Condition
The increase in tourism sector in Papua has increased from year to year. The tourism sector has also succeeded in absorbing the maximum number of workers. Tourism development in Indonesia is basically a relationship between social, economic, cultural, and industrial processes. This aspect has a valuable function for tourism development in Indonesia.
Good tourism management is tourism that benefits the whole community. This can be seen when small businesses in the community are involved in tourism activities. So, community-based tourism or CBT is tourism development by empowering local communities to maintain the sustainability of a place’s culture, customs, and local wisdom.
This concept is very suitable for application in several areas of Indonesia that have good tourism potential. For example, areas such as West Papua have the best biodiversity and biodiversity. For these reasons, community-based tourism hopes to share profits with local communities in an effective way.
The community is a core player in the planning and implementation of tourism management in a village. The wealth of nature, culture, and ethnicity is an attraction for developing CBT in Papua. Therefore, Papua is an ideal place to implement CBT. Also, the environment has an essential role in tourism, social and economic development.
Ecotourism in Malaumkarta Village
The linkage or correlation between the three aspects, namely, social, economic, and environmental, into sustainable tourism development (ecotourism). One of the ideal locations for applying the ecotourism concept is Malaumkarta Village. This is one of the marine tourism areas located in Sorong Regency. This location has marine tourism that is well-known worldwide.
Several tourism potentials can be developed, such as diving, snorkeling, releasing hatchlings, dugongs, watching, watching seagulls, and cultural civilization tours of indigenous peoples. The potential for managing marine and fishery resources needs to prioritize in Malaumkarta Villageton. With this in mind, it can develop the tourism sectors in West Papua.
The concept of the creative economy is one of the ideas to realize sustainable tourism development. For this reason, tourism development must be based on creativity on ideas, ideas, talents, and human capital. The scope of the creative economy does not require a massive production scale-like manufacturing that focuses on product quantity.
The creative industry is based more on the quality of human resources. In fact, more creative industries emerge from small and medium business groups/SMEs. This is the primary way to develop community-based marine ecotourism as an innovative economy. In this case, ideas are the immediate process in creating high-value products and services for tourists.
Natural Potential and Cultural Diversity with Conservation of Local Wisdom
Malaumkarta Village is located in Makbon District, Sorong Regency, with 15,000 hectares. The population in this area is around 462 people, with the majority ethnic Moi. The people of the Moi tribe come from a place, namely Malamoi (Mala means large land, Moi means smooth). The character of the Moi people is friendly, high solidarity, togetherness, soft-spoken, and much more.
Not all areas in the Malaumkarta Village in the West Papua area are beaches. The local community maintains the sustainability of nature and the environment based on a cultural system. The people of Malaumkarta are closely related to the conservation and preservation of nature in the form of local wisdom called ‘Egek,’ which means prohibition in the Moi language.
There are many prohibitions, such as taking sea cucumbers lobsters and bans on the use of fishing. The period of opening and closing of Sasi or Egek is adjusted to the church, customs, and village government. The procession of closing the conservation area occurs in the morning at 05.00 WIT. Then, begins with a traditional ceremony to ask the ancestors.
When Sasi opens, it is a potential that can be raised for tourist attractions visiting. The potential for tourism with residents to harvest marine products is the most important thing for attracting visitors. Some of the cultures that developed in the community, namely the Benfie Ceremony (a ceremony to ancestors), Aklen Dance (welcoming guests), and many more.
Not only that, but you will find the Kokla cloth dance for traditional parties, traditional wedding traditions paying property, etc. With all the unique cultures in West Papua, the center of the marine tourism destination of Kampung Malaumkarta has great ecotourism potential. So, besides beach tourism and underwater beauty, there is local wisdom as attractions in this area.
Overall, tourism based on creative tourism can overcome conservation, social, and employment problems. This step can reduce unemployment and reduce poverty in an area. This is why there are many effective ways to develop efforts in marine ecotourism in Papua. The highlight is the development of tourism based on local wisdom.
