Ekowisata Lokal di Kabupaten Deli Serdang: Interaksi Sosial Tingkah Laku Wisatawan Pasca Covid-19

Abstract

This research examines local ecotourism in Deli Serdang Regency and examines the social interactions and behavior of tourists before and after Covid-19. Ecotourism is a type of sustainable tourism that is experiencing rapid growth motivated by global concern for environmental sustainability. Ecotourism not only plays an important role as a source of foreign exchange, but is also a source of income for the community and prioritizes the protection of the local cultural environment. The theory used in this research is ANT theory (Actor Network Theory). The method used in this research is a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach, namely observation, in-depth interviews complete with documentation studies. This method aims to reveal a phenomenon or event, facts and circumstances that occur by interpreting and describing the data obtained and related to the situation currently occurring in society. The research analysis units are ecotourism administrators, tourists and traders in the Juma Law Sibolangit ecotourism, Sibolangit Nature Tourism Park, Muara Indah Beach Mangrove Ecotourism with informant withdrawal techniques using purposive sampling techniques, which are taken randomly based on research criteria. The results of this research show that the three Ecotourism objects that are research objects have met the criteria that are required for tourist attractions to be categorized as Ecotourism, including nature-based attractions, learning interactions, experience and product management, integration and harmony of conservation and the economy, as well as local community development. . In this research, the concept of Ecotourism was born as a positive impact of the emergence of Covid-19 which emphasizes humans to increase global awareness of environmental sustainability, so this research examines the social interaction of tourist behavior before and after Covid-19, based on the results of research on changes seen in tourists. namely, the tendency for tourists to visit individually, not in groups like before Covid-19, increased awareness of health and hygiene, planned tourism arrangements, and a tendency to be interested in open, natural and natural tourist attractions in accordance with the Ecotourism concept.