BANGKIT DARI BADAI: TRANSFORMASI INDUSTRI WISATA KULINER KOPI DAN KOMUNITAS PETANI DI ACEH TENGAH PASCA PANDEMI - Usrah, Cut Rizka Al; Kembaren, Emmia Tambarta (Journal of Islamic Tourism Halal Food Islamic Traveling and Creative Economy, 2024)
Abstrak: Potensi dan popularitas wisata kuliner kopi, khususnya kopi Arabika Gayo, telah meraih pengakuan baik secara lokal maupun internasional karena keunikan aroma dan citarasanya. Namun, dampak luas pandemi COVID-19 terhadap sektor pariwisata di Indonesia telah memberikan tantangan serius, termasuk bagi industri wisata kuliner kopi di Aceh Tengah. Penurunan kunjungan wisatawan telah mengganggu berbagai aspek bisnisnya. Oleh karena itu, penelitian dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi dampak tersebut dan menemukan solusi yang tepat guna menghidupkan kembali industri ini. Melalui metode penelitian yang melibatkan observasi, wawancara mendalam, dan FGD, upaya dilakukan untuk mengoptimalkan potensi wisata kuliner kopi di wilayah tersebut. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa pembatasan jam operasional bisnis kuliner kopi merupakan salah satu dampak terbesar dari pandemi COVID-19 di Aceh Tengah, menyebabkan penurunan pendapatan dan kesulitan dalam ekspor. Meskipun demikian, potensi pariwisata di daerah tersebut tetap tinggi meskipun terjadi penurunan jumlah wisatawan akibat adanya pembatasan aktivitas. Kata Kunci: Pariwisata Kuliner Kopi; Arabika Gayo; Dampak COVID-1; Strategi pemulihan. Abstract: The potential and popularity of coffee culinary tourism, particularly Arabica Gayo coffee, have garnered recognition both locally and internationally for its unique aroma and flavor profile. However, the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector in Indonesia has posed serious challenges, including to the coffee culinary tourism industry in Central Aceh. Decreased tourist visits have disrupted various aspects of the business. Hence, research is conducted to identify these impacts and find suitable solutions to revitalize this industry. Through research methods involving observation, in-depth interviews, and group discussions, efforts are made to optimize the potential of coffee culinary tourism in the region. The analysis reveals that operational hour restrictions on coffee culinary businesses are among the major impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Aceh, resulting in revenue decline and export difficulties. Nevertheless, the tourism potential in the area remains high despite the decrease in tourist numbers due to activity restrictions. Keywords: Coffee Culinary Tourism; Arabica Gayo; COVID-19 Impact; Recovery strategies