Strategi Pemberdayaan UMKM dalam Mendukung Pariwisata Berkelanjutan di Air Panas So’a, Kabupaten Ngada

Abstract

This study analyzes government strategies for empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to support sustainable tourism in the So’a Mengeruda Hot Spring Tourism Area, Ngada Regency. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, involving 20 purposively selected informants representing the Tourism Office, MSME actors, tourism managers, traditional community leaders, tourists, and visitors. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model, comprising data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing and verification. Robert Chambers’ community empowerment theory guided the analysis through access, control, and participation. The findings indicate that government strategies include training and mentoring, business capital assistance, access to information and market opportunities, managerial capacity development, and community participation through Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis). However, implementation remains suboptimal due to limitations in market and information access, marketing, business management, capital assistance utilization, and product diversification. Community participation and collaboration among stakeholders also require strengthening. The study concludes that integrated, sustained empowerment should prioritize capacity development, market and capital access, managerial skills, product and service quality, and community participation to enhance local economic benefits and support tourism sustainability.