Community-Based Participatory Mapping for Tourism Development in Tuwed Village, Bali

Abstract

Tuwed Village, located in Melaya, Jembrana, Bali, has rich natural and cultural resources with strong potential for sustainable tourism development. However, it has not yet been officially designated as a tourism village. Based on interviews with local community leaders, Tuwed Village holds various tourism potentials, such as a mangrove forest that serves as a habitat for diverse biota and a forest area that functions as a birdwatching site with various bird species that attract tourists. In addition, the village has agricultural potential, including extensive rice fields, cocoa, and avocado plantations. Tuwed Village offers unique local traditions, such as the traditional buffalo racing, which is distinctive and promising to be developed as part of cultural tourism. Despite these strengths, tourism development in Tuwed Village remains underutilized due to the absence of structured, data-driven zoning and spatial planning, and limited community involvement. This research aims to identify and mapping the tourism potential in Tuwed Village through direct community participation. The research methods include identifying existing potentials by engaging directly with the local community, conducting focus group discussions to plan the mapping process and developing a digital map using Geographic Information System. This research result is a tourism potential map that can be utilized by the Tuwed Village management for the sustainable development of the village towards becoming a tourism destination. Furthermore, involving the community in the mapping process enhances the spatial data accuracy, strengthens social capacity, and fosters sense of ownership, consequently, it becomes a strategic instrument for strengthening community-driven tourism initiatives.