Indonesia Conference Directory

Merauke located in the eastern part of Indonesia, which has natural and cultural resources that can be managed as tourism assets. Merauke tourism provides an opportunity to reduce the poverty of the surrounding community through community empowerment. People gain economic benefits from tourism development to increase their welfare. However, if it is not managed properly, the development of Merauke tourism can also become a disaster in the form of environmental ecosystem damage. The benefits of tourism development will be meaningless if it cannot be maintained and generated to future generations. This article will discuss the empowerment of the Merauke community in supporting the development of sustainable tourism by maintaining the sustainability and preservation of environmental ecosystems while taking into account the socio-cultural conditions of the local community. This study uses a descriptive-qualitative method that describes community empowerment in supporting sustainable tourism while gaining economic benefits from the development. The data collecting is carried out through documentary study and interviews with the Merauke Regional Government, WWF activists, and community leaders. The results of the study show that community empowerment in supporting Merauke tourism is carried out by developing the entrepreneurial spirit in tourism, increasing social control in protecting the environment and focusing on the role of local leaders in the community in tourism development.