The Socio-Economic Benefits of Community-based Mangrove Ecotourism in Lontar Village, Serang Regency

Ecotourism has been increasingly recognized as providing benefits not only in preserving the natural environment but can also improve the economy of local communities. To validate this assumption, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the implementation of Mangrove ecotourism in Lontar Village, Tirtayasa District, Serang Regency and its benefits to the community. The research method uses a qualitative descriptive method. The sample for this study was 70 respondents by asking questions using a questionnaire sheet in the form of Criteria and Indicators for Indonesian Ecotourism (KIEI) Year 2009. Data on potential came from field observations taken in the mangrove ecotourism area of Lontar Village. To verify ecotourism studies, the technique used is a formative evaluation of ongoing ecotourism activities with the application of KIEI. The results of this study indicate that based on the 5 criteria for managing ecotourism according to the KIEI guidelines, the results of the implementation of conservation activities were 46.32% sufficient, participation 48.41% good, education and recreation 47.73% good, economy 45.19% sufficient. , and control of 43.91% less category. Based on the research results, tourists and the community strongly agree that the socio-economic benefits of community-based ecotourism management are 44.40%.


INTRODUCTION
Tourism sector has been seen as an alternative to increase the economic level of society and being able to alleviate poverty (Yuty, 2008), tourism can also be relied upon to improve people's welfare and national development (Primadany, 2013). The current tourism concept is conventional tourism, because it only seeks economic benefits (Widowati & Nadra, 2013) and often damages natural ecosystems. To prevent this, another alternative is needed in creating communitybased sustainable tourism (Pornprasit & Rurkkhum, 2019;Sri Wahyuni et al., 2023) by continuing to prioritize nature conservation (Widowati & Nadra, 2013).
Then, nowadays the concept of ecotourism is increasingly popping up in various regions which are alternative tourism and offer forms of tourism that are friendly to natural and cultural sustainability. Ecotourism is a responsible tourism activity that is primarily based on nature tourism activities, by also including some rural tourism activities and cultural tourism (Wood, 2002). Through ecotourism, tourists and all components related to organizing tourism are invited to be more sensitive to environmental and social issues so that natural resources are expected to remain sustainable and tourists have a high appreciation of the environment. In addition, the community around the tourism object will benefit from the implementation of tourism because ecotourism tourists who come generally have the goal of seeking opportunities to unite with nature and local culture by staying away from the hustle and bustle of the urban atmosphere.
At the local level, the role of regional tourism is very important with the development and contribution made by the tourism sector through foreign exchange earnings, regional income, regional District, which is the northern coastal area of the western part of Java Island and is included in marine ecotourism (Musaddun et al., 2013;Yulius et al., 2018). Lontar Village started to develop mangrove ecotourism which was originally a pond area about 700 meters later the area was exposed to abrasion.  The total score is interpreted into three categories, namely high with a value range of 81% -100%, medium with a value range of 61% -80%, and low if the value range is ≤60%.
The data analysis technique in this study is using descriptive qualitative statistics.

Evaluation result
The  can be said to be not optimal. Managers need to pay attention to supporting facilities and tourism management needs to be improved.

Mangrove Ecotourism in Lontar Village
An analysis of the socio-economic  The principle of nature conservation has been considered or taken into consideration in the management of mangrove tourism.
The principle of community participation has not been maximized even though the establishment of the Lontar village mangrove tour is entirely a community initiative (not the government) but the community's concern for abrasion has made this participation value the highest compared to other principles. The principle of education in managing mangrove tourism has not been maximized, it is necessary to increase information to the wider community. The economic principle in managing mangrove tourism is also not maximized because it has not provided the widest possible opportunity for the community to be involved as business actors in the local tourism industry. Then the control principle is also very minimal because the application of the tourism principle is still not optimal due to limited human resources.
However, from all these evaluations, Lontar village mangrove tourism has provided benefits both socially and economically to the surrounding community.