DARI EKONOMI KE EKONOMI POLITIK: TRANSFORMASI SETENGAH HATI SEKTOR EKOWISATA DI BANGKA BELITUNG

Abstract

. Bangka Belitung were an area that is moving shifted from the main plantation and mining sectors to the tourism sector. The local government and various local communities are actively encouraging the improvement of this alternative economy to become a new source of income. Critical questions related to what is the true economic dimension from the perspective of tourism business actors and government intervention are very interesting to be elaborated. This study focuses on what the reasons of tourism actors are involved, particularly small enterprises and managers of tourist areas, and examines how the political economy dimension in making political decisions in ecotourism development regulated by local governments. Applying a descriptive qualitative study, this study found that ecotourism traders and managers see a bright prospects in the tourism industry development. As a result, local governments have not enhanced an optimal role the function as motivator, facilitator and dynamisator. Beloning three aspects, local governments are less than optimal in providing support for facilities and infrastructure as well as area permits, only optimal in providing capacity building support. Ecotourism development is still seen as an economic activity whose basis is generally community initiative, and has not been positioned as an activity where political decision making is considered to determine the direction of ecotourism development into the future.