The Empowerment as Community Learning Based on Ecotourism of Coastal Border at West Kalimantan

Development in coastal border areas is an important priority for addressing social and economic disparities and conflict through empowerment programs. The objective of the research is to analyze the empowerment as community learning based on ecotourism of coastal border. This research uses qualitative method in which Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and data collection is conducted through in-depth interview, observation, documentation analysis, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Participatory Decision Making (PDM). The research takes place in the border area of West Kalimantan namely Sebubus Village and Temajuk Village, Paloh Subdistrict, Sambas District. The informants are determined through purposive sampling consisting of empowerment activists, community leaders, village government, business groups, academics, and tourists. Data is analyzed using SWOT analysis. The results show (1) to develop ecotourism potential of mangrove forest and food processing from mangrove fruit, turtle breeding, and coastal tourism, a participatory and sustainable empowerment of community learning program is necessary. (2) Youth figures as community learning activists of ecotourism empowerment along with community leaders need support and cooperation from village and local government, as well as private parties. (3) Temajuk village in particular requires the improvement of road infrastructure, electrical lighting and telecommunication signals in order not to cause social and economic dependency and jealousy with Malaysian border areas.