<![CDATA[Abstract: The development of tourism villages is widely recognized as an effective strategy for promoting community empowerment and strengthening local economic resilience, particularly in areas endowed with rich natural and cultural resources. Saporkren Village, located in the Raja Ampat region, possesses significant potential for nature-based tourism and local wisdom; however, this potential has not been fully optimized to improve community welfare. This study aims to analyze the role of community empowerment through tourism village development as an effort to strengthen the local economy in Saporkren Village. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Research informants included village officials, tourism village managers, local business actors, and community members directly involved in tourism activities. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis, encompassing data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing.The findings indicate that tourism village development in Saporkren Village has contributed positively to community empowerment, as evidenced by increased community participation in tourism management, the growth of local micro-enterprises, and improved human resource capacity through training and mentoring programs. The economic impacts include increased household income, the creation of new employment opportunities, and the development of local creative economic activities. Nevertheless, several challenges remain, including limited supporting infrastructure, restricted market access, and issues related to the sustainability of empowerment programs. This study concludes that community empowerment through tourism village development plays a strategic role in strengthening the local economy. Therefore, collaborative efforts among local governments, communities, and relevant stakeholders are essential to ensure the sustainable development of community-based tourism in Saporkren Village. Keyword: community empowerment, tourism village, local economy, community-based tourism, Saporkren Village Abstrak: Pengembangan desa wisata merupakan salah satu strategi yang dinilai efektif dalam mendorong pemberdayaan masyarakat dan penguatan ekonomi lokal, khususnya di wilayah yang memiliki potensi sumber daya alam dan budaya yang unggul. Kampung Saporkren, yang terletak di kawasan Raja Ampat, memiliki potensi wisata berbasis alam dan kearifan lokal yang besar, namun belum sepenuhnya dioptimalkan untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat setempat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peran pemberdayaan masyarakat melalui pengembangan desa wisata sebagai upaya penguatan ekonomi lokal di Kampung Saporkren. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif dengan metode pengumpulan data melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi lapangan, dan studi dokumentasi. Informan penelitian meliputi aparat kampung, pengelola desa wisata, pelaku usaha lokal, dan masyarakat yang terlibat langsung dalam aktivitas pariwisata. Analisis data dilakukan melalui tahapan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan secara tematik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengembangan desa wisata di Kampung Saporkren berkontribusi positif terhadap pemberdayaan masyarakat, yang ditunjukkan melalui peningkatan partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan destinasi wisata, pengembangan usaha mikro berbasis lokal, serta peningkatan kapasitas sumber daya manusia melalui pelatihan dan pendampingan. Dampak ekonomi yang dirasakan meliputi peningkatan pendapatan masyarakat, terciptanya lapangan kerja baru, dan tumbuhnya aktivitas ekonomi kreatif berbasis potensi lokal. Namun demikian, penelitian ini juga menemukan beberapa tantangan, seperti keterbatasan infrastruktur pendukung, akses pemasaran, dan keberlanjutan program pemberdayaan. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa pemberdayaan masyarakat melalui pengembangan desa wisata memiliki peran strategis dalam memperkuat ekonomi lokal. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan sinergi antara pemerintah daerah, masyarakat, dan pemangku kepentingan lainnya untuk memastikan keberlanjutan pengembangan desa wisata berbasis masyarakat di Kampung Saporkren. Kata kunci: Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, Desa Wisata, Ekonomi Lokal, Pariwisata Berbasis Masyarakat, Kampung Saporkren]]>
