Preliminary Study on Rural Tourism Development in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan: Potential and Status

Abstract

Rural tourism is an economic-driven activity that combines local community creativity, culture, and natural attractions and supported by appropriate facilities and accommodation for tourists. Kutai Kartanegara Regency might posses a combination of all these potentials due to itsstrategic location prior to the relocation of Indonesia's New Capital City. However, information and feasibility of rural tourism development within Kutai Kartanegara is still unknown. This study aims to identify the potential of rural tourism including through classification of the level of tourism development in Kutai Kartanegara area. This research utilises a mixed-methods approach involving primary data and secondary data. The data was collected through literature review, questionnaires, observations, and interviews. Descriptive analysis was adopted for classifying cases and score values analysis. The stage status of tourism village development in Kutai Kartanegara was included in the development, pioneering, and advanced categories. This study indicated that accessibility and community readiness, and local attractions become a major contributors for providing support and implementing rural tourism development, with the score value of 3.05 respectively. The aspects of local institution and the amenities indicated a low score of less than 3.0. BUMDes (Village-owned Enterprises) and Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis) are curently not being optimised to providing support for the sustainability of rural tourism. Furthermore, lack of promotion and support from associations and the Government contributed to the lower level of tourism development.