Ecotourism Potential in Meratus Geopark, South Kalimantan

Ellyn Normelani (University Lambung Mangkurat)
Selamat Riadi (University Lambung Mangkurat)
Rusma Noortyani (University Lambung Mangkurat)
Endarto Endarto (Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, South Kalimantan Province,)
Nasir Nayan (Department of Geography and Environment, Faculty of Human Sciences, Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia)

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Development Studies
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2021)

Ecotourism development in Mt. Meratus, South Kalimantan, is crucial to support the future development and forest use in the South Kalimantan area. Ecotourism provides a mechanism to use forest resources sustainably while at the same time provides opportunities for local economic growth. This paper aims to describe the potential resources of Mt. Meratus to support the ecotourism program in South Kalimantan. The development of ecotourism in Mt. Meratus has been crucial since the area has a high level of geo-biodiversity and cultural resources, which are important for the future human being. Protecting and promoting indigenous knowledge of the community in the Mt. Meratus geo-site area are important to support sustainable development programs, including the development of ecotourism as one of the practices of responsible travels to the natural ecosystem.Keywords: biodiversity conservation, geotourism, Mt. Meratus Kalimantan.