Integrasi Kawasan Wisata Pelang, Kabupaten Tuban Berdasarkan Prinsip Ekowisata

Abstract

Tourism integration is increasingly applied as a destination development strategy because it enhances attractiveness, expands tourist experiences, and encourages growth in visitor numbers. Integrated tourism development requires strong collaboration among Tourist Attractions (ODTW) as well as support from complementary sectors to create a sustainable and competitive tourism system. One area with significant potential for integrated ecotourism-based development is the Pelang Tourism Area in Tuban Regency.The Pelang Tourism Area consists of six tourist destinations located in close proximity and connected by a river network. These destinations offer diverse attractions, including natural landscapes, educational tourism, and family-oriented recreation. Despite its high potential, tourism development in this area still faces several challenges. These include the absence of integrated planning among destinations, limited facilities and infrastructure, inadequate promotional efforts, and weak coordination between destination managers and local government institutions. As a result, tourist visits are unevenly distributed, and connectivity among destinations remains suboptimal. This study aims to identify factors influencing tourism integration development in the Pelang Tourism Area based on ecotourism principles. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with tourism managers and relevant stakeholders and analyzed using Market Basket Analysis (MBA) and network analysis. The MBA results reveal two clusters of integrated tourist destinations based on visitor movement patterns. These clusters were further mapped using network analysis to form interconnected tourism routes. The findings indicate that tourism integration in the Pelang Tourism Area has strong potential to improve inter-destination connectivity, balance tourist visits, and enhance overall tourist experiences. Effective implementation requires strengthened stakeholder collaboration, improved area-wide promotion, and consistent application of ecotourism principles emphasizing environmental conservation and local community empowerment. This study is expected to provide a reference for local governments in formulating sustainable tourism management policies to enhance regional competitiveness and community welfare.