ASTROTOURISM POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN INDONESIA

• Main Author: YOSHAFETRI YUNA, DWI
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/26805
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

<p align="justify">Indonesia is the seventh-largest country in the world, forming an arc between Asia and Australia, consisting of five large islands and more than 13.600 smaller islands. Having various enticing landscapes and attractive cultures, it is not surprising that Indonesia has many tourist destinations. This research signifies that several existing natural tourist destinations are potential to be developed as astrotourism attractions in the location. <br /> <br /> <br /> Terrestrial astrotourism is a new promising sustainable tourism niche in the future. Tourism and astronomy can form a mutual symbiosis. As an Indonesia’s leading economic sector, tourism is an appropriate bridge to astronomy popularization toward the public which surely stimulates the advancement of astronomy research and education. At the same time, astronomy is a strategic tourism niche which is in line with government’s sustainable tourism principle, along with Sustainable Tourism Development (STD) issue around the globe. <br /> <br /> <br /> This research studies conditions such as sky condition, air quality, terrain, etc as possible criteria to be fulfilled for a place to be a potential astrotourism destination. The potential locations are then further studied utilizing Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) which combines several astro-climatological data by Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. Finally, we did SWOT analysis on several best locations and recommend those locations to be Indonesia astrotourism destination along with the development strategy. As we step in the strategy consists of dark sky protection effort, the success of astrotourism will be beneficial for the advancement of astronomical works in Indonesia, public science education, whilst ensuring sustainable development through environmental protection. <br /> <br /> <br /> The result of the research will be beneficial for both astronomy development and government as a solution challenges in astronomy popularization and the urgency of sustainable tourism development in the country. <br /> <p align="justify"> <br /> <br />