Ecotourism Development to Enhance the Welfare of the Walesi Village Community Through a Local Wisdom Approach in Jayawijaya, Highland Papua

Abstract

Walesi Village in Jayawijaya District, Papua Mountains, has been selected as research subject due to its unique natural beauty and spectacular landscapes, making it one of the premier tourist destinations in the region. Post-pandemic, there has been a notable trend among travelers to return to nature, which remains a favored form of tourism. This trend is characterized by four key attributes: hygiene, minimal contact, low crowd density, and reduced mobility. Consequently, there is substantial potential for the development of ecotourism that can be marketed to both domestic and international consumers. This study aims to provide a systematic, factual, and accurate description of the facts, characteristics, and relationships between the investigated phenomena, while also outlining the challenges hindering the implementation of ecotourism based on local wisdom. Additionally, it seeks to identify the supporting factors for the application of locally based ecotourism in Jayawijaya District. The research methodology is classified as quantitative descriptive research. This means that the study aims to describe, explain, or summarize various conditions, situations, phenomena, or research variables as they exist. Data will be collected through various methods, including observation, interviews, and documentation. It is expected that this research will contribute to resolving issues related to the National Research Master Plan (RIRN) in the priority research area of Digital Marketing within the field of Economics and Business, focusing specifically on the development of ecotourism and the strengthening of socio-cultural aspects in the humanities and arts.