FKIP – Lecturer in Geography Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta who is part of the Applied Geography Research Group Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNS held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Karst Area Management Training and Tourism Development on Sunday (11/06/2023). This activity was offline in Maron Hamlet, Dersono Village, Pringkuku District, Pacitan Regency. She is Dr. Pipit Wijayanti, S.Si., M.Sc.

This FGD and training activity implements the UNS Research and Community Service (P2M) Community Partnership Program (PKM) scheme. As the team leader, Dr. Pipits with Dr. Rita Noviani, S. Si., M. Sc as a member assisted by students, successfully carried out this activity with great enthusiasm from the participants. Dr. Pipit and the team took the Maron River Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) and local youth organizations as the main partners in carrying out its activities.

In his remarks, Dr. Pipit said that the background for the FGD and training activities was the condition of Dersono Village, which is in the Gunung Sewu Karst area, which is known to be barren but has the wonderful Maron River as a tourism spot. This allows the area’s vulnerability to pollution and damage to karst ecosystems. Thus, Dr. Pipit and the team assumed that the village needed wise tourism management.

“The karst area is a unique morphology because the shape of the water flow is different from the non-karst area. Because the flow is below the surface, the area is often known as barren. However, other potentials are enormous, such as rare ecosystems and climate control in the tourism sector. An example is the Maron River. This karst area is vital but vulnerable to damage and contamination due to human activities. Therefore, management needs to be considered so that it is sustainable,” said Dr. Pipit.

The activity was attended by Suwarlan, S.Pd as Head of Dersono Village, Agus as Head of Maron Hamlet, Dedi Dwi Hardianto as Chair of the Maron River Pokdarwis, Members of the Maron River Pokdarwis, and local youth organizations. Before the FGD and training, participants were asked to do a pre-test first. The activity was followed by a presentation of material on the ecosystem of the karst region by Dr. Pipit Wijayanti, S.Sc., M.Sc and Sustainable Tourism Management by Dr. Rita Novianti, S.Si., M.Sc.

After the presentation of the material, the activity continued with discussion. The discussion was intended to gather participants’ opinions regarding problems and ways of solving them related to human resources, infrastructure, branding, attractions, and the environment. After that, a post-test was carried out to determine the increase in understanding of the management of eco karst tourism.

On this occasion, Dr. Rita revealed that managing eco-karst tourism is a fundamental focus that will lead to the branding of the Maron River. He said that branding and excellent service were needed to increase the number of visits and add an impression to tourists.

“The Maron River is very beautiful and has potential in the future because it is not the only one in Pacitan. Therefore, to increase the number of visits and make a deep impression on tourists, it is necessary to have branding regarding its uniqueness and excellent service to tourists,” said Dr. Rita.

As a Sungai Maron Pokdarwis member, Dwi said that the FGD and training were very welcomed by the community, especially the Pokdarwis and youth organizations. He admitted that this activity provided understanding and added new skills in sustainably managing the Maron River.

“On behalf of the Sungai Maron Pokdarwis friends, I thank UNS for holding this activity. Activities like this are what we need for the development of Maron River tourism in the future so that we can also get economic benefits, environmental sustainability is also maintained,” said Dwi

Assistance in developing the Maron River Eco Karst Tourism will continue to be carried out through P2M UNS and from the Ministry of Education and Culture and Research, Technology, and Higher Education. This is expected to introduce this tour nationally and even internationally.

PUBLIC RELATION FKIP

Reporter: Rosantika Utami
Editor: Budi Suseno

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