Examining the Economic Value of Tourism and Visitor Preferences: A Portrait of Sustainability Ecotourism in the Tangkahan Protection Area, Gunung Leuser National Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

North Sumatra Province has the Tangkahan Nature Tourism Area, which represents ecotourism managed by local communities, established in 2001, which has now become the leading tourism destination of North Sumatra both locally and internationally. Tangkahan ecotourism is an example of payment for environmental services for the Tangkahan community, which initially carried out illegal logging in the mount Leuseur national park and then agreed to preserve the national park through ecotourism. This study aims to analyze the economic value of tourism and the preferences of tourists to revisit, along with the factors that influence them, where these conditions can be an illustration of the sustainability of Tangkahan ecotourism. The travel cost method is used to calculate the economic value of Tangkahan Ecotourism environmental services. The factors that affect the economic value, intensity of visits, and interest in revisiting, were analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results showed that Tangkahan ecotourism has a relatively high economic value, supported by the intensity and interest of tourist visits. Factors that affect the economic value and preferences of tourist visits can be managed for the sustainability of Tangkahan ecotourism so as not to lose the economic value of the ecotourism environmental services.

Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage in Vâlcea County, South-West Oltenia Region: Motivations, Belief and Tourists’ Perceptions

“…We required a sample of 100 respondents who were religious tourism and pilgrimage visitors to Vâlcea County, determined using the Slovin formula, which is as follows (Tejada and Joyce 2012;Ellen 2012;Sugiyono 2017;Purwoko et al 2022) We conducted the study with a larger pool of respondents, and from this diverse group, we chose a sample of 100 participants. This sample encompassed individuals from diverse demographic groups, including people of different ages, genders, education levels, occupations and backgrounds.…”

Assessing the impacts of local intention on community-based wildlife ecotourism in Tangkahan, Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) and the development strategy in the post- COVID-19 outbreak

“…The positive attitude to conservation programs can be affected by economic benefits gained from forest resources, the need for social cohesiveness, the need for accessing land/land rights, developing cultural identity and developing organizational capability. In Tangkahan Ecotourism, wildlife ecotourism provides socio-economic rewards to communities by increasing job opportunities and improving income levels [30,31,35]. The research of Purwoko et al [31] calculated the economic value of Tangkahan Ecotourism based on travel cost was 72,708,168,000/year (equivalent to the US $505,514.6).…”

“…In Tangkahan Ecotourism, wildlife ecotourism provides socio-economic rewards to communities by increasing job opportunities and improving income levels [30,31,35]. The research of Purwoko et al [31] calculated the economic value of Tangkahan Ecotourism based on travel cost was 72,708,168,000/year (equivalent to the US $505,514.6). Likewise, from the social aspect, ecotourism has driven a better social life compared to the social life before the operation of ecotourism in Tangkahan.…”

“…Wildlife ecotourism has been implemented in some parts of GNLP, such as in Bukit Lawang to conserve Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) since 1973 [10,29] and in Tangkahan to conserve Sumatran Elephant (E. maximus sumatranus) since 2002 [30,31]. It has significantly reduced the disturbances to the forest by empowering local communities.…”

The Contribution of the Tourism Sector to the Regional Spatial Economy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The tourism and hospitality industries contribute to economic development globally, nationally, and locally [7][8][9]. These industries are considered significant influencers to Gross Regional Income (GRDP), specifically those related to hotel investments, level, and duration of tourist visits in an area [10].…”