Heritage Tourism Development: Concept of Community-based

Tourism in Megalithic Site of Gunung Padang

Israul Hasanah

, Hera Susanti

, Riyanto

and Hapsari Setyowardhani

Faculty of Economics, Universitas Indonesia, Depok -Indonesia

Institute for Economic and Social Research – Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta-

Department of Management, Universitas Indonesia, Depok –Indonesia

Keywords: Heritage Tourism, Gunung Padang, Tour Guides, Homestay, Store

Abstract: Tourism is the largest industry in the world, is an essential community economic vitality, sustainability,

greatly contribute to poverty alleviation and economic growth. In recent years, heritage tourism growing

much faster than all other forms of tourism, especially in developing countries. Conservation of heritages

tourism is important to conserving the natural environment and the local community is the main stakeholder

and benefactor from the heritage tourism development. This study uses a qualitative approach, the data were

discovered through three instruments: Observation, Interview and documentation. Cianjur Regency is one

area in West Java that has a good tourism in Heritage tourism, which is not owned by many regions in

Indonesia. Based on the research, found that heritage tourism relevant tourism concept to develop on

megalithic site of Gunung Padang. Heritage tourism is a reflection of the culture and the identity of the

local community. Furthermore, tour guides of local community participantion in heritage tourism in Gunung

Padang site were symbolic. They are important to increase their strategy to improve their participation. The

synergy among stakeholders specifically the quality of homestay and store was needed to increase local

community participation.

1 INTRODUCTION

Tourism is the largest industry in the world, is an

essential community economic vitality,

sustainability, greatly contribute to poverty

alleviation and economic growth. The relationship

between tourism and economic growth has long

been discussed, one of them through the multiplier

effect theory developed by Keynes. Based on the

Keynesian approach, international tourism is an

exogenous variable in the form of aggregate

demand, which has a positive impact on income and

expansion of employment and leading to economic

growth (Suresh and Senthilnathan, 2014). Tourists

contribute to sales, profits, tax revenues that

contribute to the economic growth of the destination

area (Fawaz and Rahnama, 2014).

Tourism also has a positive impact on

infrastructure development and the expansion of

insights for local communities. Workers engaged in

tourism are one form of investment in human

resources, especially in several fields, such as

telecommunications, food, care and health, and

transportation (Lee & Chang, 2008). Because the

tourism industry is a labor-intensive industry,

tourism will encourage increased tourism for

tourism purposes (Suresh and Senthilnathan, 2014).

Although tourism has many positive impacts, many

developing countries have not been able to optimize

their tourism potential, especially in rural areas. This

condition is caused by poor infrastructure conditions

and most of the rural areas are inhabited by poor

people so that the development of local community-

based tourism becomes an effort to improve

community welfare

In United state visiting historic site rank third

behind shopping and outdoor pursuits for travelers

(Burns L et al., 2010). The historical and cultural

resources associated with people, even, or

community's pas give that community its sense of

identity and help tell their story (Burns L et al.,

460

Hasanah, I., Susanti, H., Riyanto, . and Setyowardhani, H.

Heritage Tourism Development: Concept of Community-based Tourism in Megalithic Site of Gunung Padang.

DOI: 10.5220/0009502004600465

In Proceedings of the 1st Unimed International Conference on Economics Education and Social Science (UNICEES 2018), pages 460-465

ISBN: 978-989-758-432-9

2010). Conservation of all heritages is important to

conserving the natural environment and the local

community is the main stakeholder and benefactor

from the heritage tourism development. Involving

the local community to support the tourism industry

as a crucial component in achieving sustainable

development of tourism. Cernea (1991) defines

community participation as giving people more

opportunities to participate effectively in developing

activities and empowering people to mobilize their

own capacities, be social actors rather than a passive

subject, manage their resources, make decisions, and

control the activities that affect their lives. Entering

the community and holding meetings about

development plans, the community will be able to

offer advice and information about cultural sites and

heritage to be included in the tour of the area. This

also allows community members to have a direct

role in designing tours, giving them empowerment

and independence.

Tourism development based on empowering

local communities is an important aspect of poverty

alleviation in local communities. Bryden (1973)

revealed that the development of tourism has a

mutual relationship with economic growth in the

context of poverty alleviation. In the process of

tourism development, the government must involve

the local communities as producers, workers, micro-

enterprises and community members (Ashley et al.,

2001). Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is a

concept of tourism that aims to advance the role of

local communities. Community-Based Tourism

(CBT), this approach aims to promote the

development of village tourism in both developed

and developing countries. The development of

village tourism will have a direct impact on local

communities, reduce poverty in rural areas, preserve

cultural heritage, increase attention to the

conservation of natural resources and are expected to

reduce economic inequality and imbalance in a

sustainable manner.

2 THEORICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Community-Based Tourism (CBT)

Community-Based Tourism (CBT) approach was

first introduced in the mid-1990s. This approach is

relatively small with the aim to bring local

communities closer to tourists who come and are

suitable for tourism development in rural and

regional levels.

Tasci et al., (2013) define CTB as a tourism

concept that is planned, built, owned and managed

by the community for the community through

collective decision making, responsibility, access,

ownership, and benefits. According to (Russell,

2000) community-based tourism must meet three

criteria, namely; (1) obtaining support and

participation from local communities (2) most of the

profits should be obtained by communities around

tourist destinations, (3) tourists must protect the

culture and natural resources and environment of the

local community. CBT prioritizes the development

of a sustainable environment, social and cultural

ownership in the area that is managed and owned by

the community, for communities with a purpose to

increase visitor awareness to learn about the culture

and way of life of local communities (Suansri,

2013). While that the relationship between the local

community and visitors can be tightly intertwined.

CBT provides an opportunity for local communities

to be able to develop products, protect the

environment and local culture. So that it is believed

to be able to create opportunities for local people to

participate in taking advantage of the development

of the tourism industry.

According to Suansari (2003) there are five

main dimensions in the development of the CBT

concept, namely: 1) the economic dimension, with

indicators in the form of funds for community

development, the creation of jobs in the tourism

sector, the emergence of local people's income from

the tourism sector; 2) social dimension with

indicators of increasing quality of life, increasing

community pride, equitable division of roles

between men and women, young and old

generations, and building community organizations;

3) cultural dimensions with indicators in the form of

encouraging people to respect different cultures,

help develop cultural exchanges, culture of

development closely embedded in local culture; 4)

environmental dimensions, with indicators studying

the carrying capacity of the area, regulating waste

disposal, increasing awareness of the need for

conservation; 5) political dimension, with indicators:

increasing participation of the local population,

increasing wider communal power, guaranteeing

rights in natural resource management. Gunungain

Institute (2000) sees the concept of CBT as a

concept that encourages and supports various

economic activities, social development, and

conservation. Gunungain Institute (2000) further

emphasizes that the goal of CBT is to provide broad

economic benefits, strength in decision making and

increase the capacity and the capacity of the

community.

Heritage Tourism Development: Concept of Community-based Tourism in Megalithic Site of Gunung Padang

461

The role of local communities in the

development of heritage tourism has not been much

analyzed, but the concept of community-based

tourism has been widely developed in various

countries. In Malaysia, CBT product as a practice is

the quality of life of the homestay owner. Based on

Yusof et, al., n.d, quality of life of residents who

operate homestay will largely depend on their own

attributes economically, government involvement,

community role and the issues of sustainability. The

success of the MPH programs can be grouped into

the competition criteria and the sustainability criteria

(Kayat & Zainuddin, 2016). In Indonesia, CBT

approach as a practice to the development of

religious tourism in Aceh Singkil. Based on the

research, Religious tourism (Halal tourism) relevant

tourism concept to development in Aceh Singkil

(Anismar et, al., 2012). In Bali, 85% (from 170)

agree that CBT tourism positively impacts in Ubud

Bali.

2.2 Heritage Tourism

Since 1972, UNESCO has carried out a series of

consecutive international conventions and

declarations to establish an international framework

for the protection of various forms of heritage. The

1972 UNESCO convention focused on world

cultural and natural heritage protection. The

National Trust for Historic Preservation defines

heritage tourism as a trip to places, artifacts, and

activities that authentically represent stories and

people from the past and present.

Heritage tourism protects history, culture,

people and natural resources in cities by involving

their local community. Heritage tourism has an

economic benefit through creation job in travel

industry at cultural and heritage attraction, increased

income and taxes, economic diversification in

tourism industry (hotel, restaurants, etc), encourage

creativity from local entrepreneurship and small

businesses, increase investment in historic properties

and increased other economic return from cultural

and heritage tourism. Heritage tourism as also has

other benefit through education for both local

resident and visitor and increased preservation ethic

(Burns L et al., 2010).

3 RESEARCH METHOD

This study uses the qualitative approach, the data

were discovered through three instruments:

Observation, Interview and documentation.

4 ANALYSIS

Cianjur Regency has good potential in the

construction of various types of tourism. The

tourism sector is also one of the leading sectors in

accordance with the results in the Cianjur District

Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) for

2016-2021. Cianjur Regency has a wealth of nature

and culture that can be used as an attractive tourist

location to visit. Currently, the development of

tourist destinations in Cianjur Regency is mostly

focused on developing tourism with the concept of

ecotourism including Pandanwangi, Kampung

Sarongge, Lebakmuncang, and National Flower Park

tourist sites. The tourism destination provides

natural and Gunungain views of Cianjur Regency.

In addition, Cianjur district also has a cultural

heritage that has a high historical value and suitable

to be developed as a tourist attraction, namely the

Gunung Padang tourist area. The heritage tourism of

the Gunung Padang site area has been designated as

a cultural preserve based on the Decree of the

Minister of Education and Culture, Number

139/1998 and is protected by Law Number 11 of

2010 concerning Cultural Heritage.

The Gunung Padang is a traditional of

megalithic site. The site consist of five terraces with

5 stair steps made stone to go from one terrace to

another terraces. The main complex area is

approximately 900 m², located at an altitude of 885

m above sea level. The site area is around 3 ha,

making it the largest punden complex in Southeast

Asia. Archeologists estimated that the Gunung

Padang was built around 11,00 years BC, older than

Kutai Kingdom and Egyptian Pyramids, and roughly

2800 years before Borobudur temple built.

Arranged with square volcanic rocks. The

punden area ancient settlements in the megalithic

era. But the potential of Gunung Padang sites

evidently has not made the side into historical tourist

attraction widely known and appreciated by the

public compred to Borobudur and Prambanan

Temple. The archeological potential, geological

hisstory has not been explored optimally si a form of

thr natural and cultural wealth of the Cianjur

community.

The existence of this site was published in

Rapporten van de Oudheidkundige Dienst (ROD,

"Archaeological Service Bulletin") in 1914. Dutch

historian NJ Krom also mentioned it in 1949. After

being "forgotten", in 1979 three locals, Endi, Soma,

and Abidin, reported to Edi, Cultural Inspector of

the Campaka Sub-District, regarding the existence of

a large pile of square stones of various sizes

UNICEES 2018 - Unimed International Conference on Economics Education and Social Science

462

arranged in terraces which led to Gunung Gede

(https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situs_Gunung_Padang

The Sundanese people consider that site sacred

and believe it was the result of King Siliwangi’s

attempt to build a palace in one night. The

asymmetric “Punden Berundak” faces northwest, to

Gunung Gede and was constructed for the purpose

of worship. “Punden Berundak” in Gunung Padang

site has a contrasting shape with the “Punden

Berundak” in Borobudur temple with a symetrical

“Punden Berundak” and also in tourism site in

Sibedung Lebak Banten also has a symetrical

“Punden Berundak”.

Figure1: Gunung Padang Megalithic Site, Cianjur,

West Java

Since 2010, the number of tourists visiting the

historic Gunung Padang tourism site has increased

significantly. Visitors who come also have different

goals ranging from rituals of religious trust, holiday

and also to learn the history of the formation of

Gunung Padang tourism objects. The Megalithic site

of Gunung Padang is one of the tourist destinations

visited by many other tourist destinations in Cianjur.

The number of visitors to Gunung Padang site more

than 18000 visitors every month, especially in the

middle of the year and summer. Archaeologists even

estimate that the Gunung Padang site is the largest

human civilization site ever. Natural vegetation that

is present in all complex surfaces is encased by

ancient volcanic rocks that form punden terraces.

Many of the foreign and domestic tourists visit with

the aim of vacation, pilgrimage and research.

But lately, the number of visitors to Gunung

Padang has begun to decline. This condition was

caused by infrastructure damage due to flooding and

landslides on several routes to the megalithic site of

Gunung Padang. However, the too high number of

visitors in every week is expected to endanger the

Gunung Padang cultural heritage site. To avoid the

crisis condition of the megalithic site of Gunung

Padang due to the collapse of visitors, communities,

and managers of the megalithic site of Gunung

Padang applying the rotating concept for the visitors.

Its mean that the visitors who had just arrived to

wait for the visitor has gone down. In this case, the

role of the local community is necessary to maintain

the sustainability of the Gunung Padang site.

Community participant to was the importance for the

tourism management, location planning for tourism

plaes and protect natural resources.

Community-Based Tourism: A Concept to

Develop Heritage Tourism in Gunung Padang

site

To be succesful, develoment of heritage tourism

must be driven by local community. Heritage

tourism educates the resident people and visitor

about the local and regional history and share the

traditions. Thorough the exsposure of the local

historci site, local people be come better imformed

about the their history and cultur. Involving and

empowering local communities important aspect in

develop heritage tourism in Gunung Padang site.

Participant of the local community becomes more

important to maintain the sustainability of cultural

heritage tourism of Gunung Padang.

Through the concept of Community Based

Tourism, each individual in the community is

directed to be part of the tourism economic chain,

for which individuals are given the skills to develop

a small business. In this way, the capacity of local

communities in organizing tourism activities will

increase. the development of heritage tourism in

Gunung Padang can be done by carrying out

capacity building on three aspects, namely tour

guides, homestays and sellers.

4.1 Tour Guides

Community participant in the process of the

maintenance megalithic site of Gunung Padang was

a simbolic. For instance, Kelompok Penggerak

Parawisata (Kompepar) or Driving Tourism

Committee duty to participate in floating the tourist

destination. In the tourism area of Gunung Padang,

one of the tasks of Kompepar as a tour guide for

tourists who come both domestically and foreign.

Because the megalithic site of Gunung Padang is a

historical site, there is not much of people that are

known about the as historical as the formation of

Gunung Padang other than local communities that

have been settled for a long time. The role of local

Heritage Tourism Development: Concept of Community-based Tourism in Megalithic Site of Gunung Padang

463

communities, especially Kompepar, is very

important in providing information related to the

history of Gunung Padang to tourists who need

information about the history of Gunung Padang.

Moreover the purpose of tourists, especially foreign

tourists, mostly came to learn about the history from

the Gunung Padang site.

Based on the interviewd with the tour guides in

area of Gunung Padang site, around 90% of the

visitor who come to Gunung Padang revealed the

history of Gunung Padang is the interisting topic

which made them visit to the are of Gunung Padang.

other than that, 5 % visitor aims to study or research

and 5 % come to the Gunung Padang because of the

beautiful view in the area of the Gunung Padang.

Beside of the three main topics, some of visitor

come to Gunung Padang for pilgrimage, ritual and

religious trust. Visitor meditate at midnight because

it's quiet, precisely on Friday night. According to

information from local residents, every Friday night

is the right time for visitors who want to make a

pilgrimage, meditate to perform the rituals in area of

Gunung Padang.

4.2 Homestay and Sellers

The area around Gunung Padang has 6 homestays,

of which 5 are central government assistance

through PNPM program. The average homestay in

Gunung Padang tourism is large enough to

accommodate many visitors. There can

accommodate up to 20 people even though the

number of rooms provided is only 5 rooms. The

rental price for a homestay there is quite varied,

there are those who set a rental price per room and

per day there are also those who receive income

from the rental homestay, according to the visitor's

budget. On average, rental prices per day and per

room Rp. 15000 - Rp. 150000. While for the group

can rent 1 house equipped with guest rooms at a

rental price of Rp. 500,000 per night.

There are 21 sellers around Gunung Padang.

On weekdays (Monday-Friday) the average number

of buyers is 0-40 visitor, while on holidays

(Saturday-Sunday), the number of buyers can reach

60-80. Most sellers sell drinks, snacks, and there are

some who sell souvenirs.

Finding from the observation and field study that

the condition of the homestay and sellers that the

cleanliness and comfort of homestays and sellers

must be improved. The community in Gunung

Padang area expects assistance in the form of funds

or goods, such as capital grants for Homestay

renovations and stores, homestay equipment

(mattresses, blankets, pillows, toiletries, etc.). The

background of this is that previously there were a

number of programs from the Central Java West

Government and also from Non-Governmental

Organizations such as PNPM, which provided

funding and equipment for communities around

Gunung Padang.

Because their work is only as a seller and owner

of a homestay, the number of visitors who spend or

stay at their homestay is the only source of income

for local community around Gunung Padang site.

lack of tourists who choose to join and stay in a

homestay has directly affected the expected sources

of income.

5 CONCLUSIONS

From this study, the one way to manage the

sustanabily of heritage tourism by involving the

local community to manage a tourism area in a

manner to improves the quality experience of the

visitor. Moreover, involving and empowering local

community to preserves heritage tourism for future

generation.

Local community especially tour guieds

participant in heritage tourism in Gunung Padang

site, Cianjur was symbolic. Tour guieds involved if

their exsistence was needed. Local community as

alaso need for funding assistance and provision of

Homestay facilities and store facilities for Homestay

owners and store owners, to improve the quality

services and more diverse types of goods for

visitors. In addition, more technical training is

needed from managing professional homestays and

store.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We gratefully acknowledge the ‘Hibah PTUPT

Kemenristek Dikti TA-2018 No.

429/UN2.R3.1/HKPO5.00/2018’ and ‘Hibah

Program IPTEK bagi Masyarakat Kemenristek Dikti

TA-2018 No. 4551/ UN2.R3.1/HKPO5.00/2018’ for

financing this research.

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