ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SITU GUNUNG NATURE TOURISM THROUGH ECONOMIC VALUATION WITH AN APPROACH TRAVEL COST METHOD (TCM)
Keywords:
Economic Valuation, Nature-Based Tourism, Travel Cost Method, Situ Gunung, Willingness To PayAbstract
Conservation forest areas serve not only to protect ecosystems but also hold significant economic value through their utilization as nature-based tourism destinations. This study aims to estimate the economic value of tourism at the Suspension Bridge area in Situ Gunung, Sukabumi, using the Travel Cost Method (TCM). This method assesses visitors' willingness to pay by analyzing travel expenditures, visit frequency, and demographic characteristics as proxies for the benefits derived from their visits. Primary data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 100 respondents and analyzed using descriptive and quantitative methods. The results show that the majority of visitors used private vehicles (50%) and rental cars (25%), with an average travel cost of IDR 307,819.96 per person per visit. Most visitors were male, aged between 20 and 30 years, and had a monthly income exceeding IDR 7,000,000. Additionally, 63% of respondents were repeat visitors, indicating a high level of satisfaction. Based on the assumption of 104,940 visits in 2024, the estimated annual economic value of tourism in the Suspension Bridge area amounts to IDR 32,302,525,860. These findings highlight the substantial economic contribution of nature-based tourism in the area and underscore the importance of sustainable management to support environmental conservation and local community empowerment
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