Mangrove Ecotourism Management Model Based on Local Wisdom in Enhancing Economic Empowerment of Coastal Communities in Berau Regency

Abstract

Berau Regency possesses the largest mangrove ecosystem in East Kalimantan, covering 86,043 hectares with exceptional biodiversity. However, economic utilization through ecotourism remains suboptimal, with limited community participation and inadequate integration of local wisdom in management practices. This study analyzes the mangrove ecotourism management model based on local wisdom to enhance the economic empowerment of coastal communities. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research integrates Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to examine relationships among governance, local wisdom integration, and community welfare, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for stakeholder priority analysis, and ecological carrying capacity assessment for sustainability metrics. Data were collected from 250 respondents across five coastal villages in Berau through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews with 35 key informants, including village leaders and tourism managers, and participatory observation. Findings reveal that local wisdom significantly influences community participation (β=0.742, p<0.001) and economic benefits (β=0.658, p<0.001). The ecological carrying capacity indicates sustainable visitor limits of 385 tourists daily with current infrastructure. AHP analysis prioritizes community-based governance (weight=0.412), followed by cultural preservation (0.287) and environmental conservation (0.301). The proposed integrated model demonstrates potential to increase household income by 68.3%, create 520 employment opportunities, and maintain ecological integrity through traditional conservation practices, including sasi laut and customary zoning. Policy implications emphasize institutional strengthening, capacity-building programs, and the formalization of local wisdom in regional tourism regulations.