Banyuwangi Rebound: A Tourism Potrait at the Eastern Tip of Java Island

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has made tourism industry suffered from sharp decline due to massively reduced tourists demand which also accompanied by implementation of government policy of Large Scale Social Restriction (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar/PSBB). It also affected Banyuwangi Regency where number of tourists were decreased and weakened its tourism industry, where in some areas many tourism industries dwindling and at some extent drove several tourism industries went out of business. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to find out of how Banyuwangi Regency able to revive its tourism industry in the new normal era. This study aimed to analyse on how Banyuwangi Rebound maximizes its natural and cultural tourism potentials to develop its tourism industry. Research method applied in this study was a qualitative method. The result of the study showed that by geographical perspective, the location of Banyuwangi Regency supports these areas to have many interesting natural potentials such as Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen) and Red Island (Pulau Merah). Not only that, the local people or natives of Banyuwangi Regency known as the Using tribe also have unique cultures including Seblang, Gandrung Dance, and Kebo-keboan. Banyuwangi Rebound packages many unique and interesting natural also attractive tourism potentials into one tourism attraction and be integrated to the Banyuwangi Festival Calendar and the Banyuwangitourism app so that it can attract tourists to visit Banyuwangi Regency as their tourism destination.