Customary Forests as Cultural Tourism Attractions: A Field Observation Study in the Ammatoa Kajang Customary Area, Bulukumba Regency

Abstract

The Ammatoa Kajang Customary Area in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, is an indigenous community that protects its customary forest through the value system of Pasang ri Kajang. This study describes the customary forest as a cultural tourism attraction based on the researchers’ field visit as visitors. A descriptive qualitative approach was applied using field observation, field notes, and video documentation. Data were analysed deductively and inductively through the attraction, accessibility, and amenities (3A) framework and the realms of tourism experience, following the data reduction, display, and conclusion-drawing stages of (M. B. Miles, A. M. Huberman 2014). The findings show that (1) the customary forest is the main attraction, creating a natural and sacred atmosphere and serving as an entry point to Kajang values; (2) customary rules and local guides shape visitor conduct and keep the community in control of how the area is visited; (3) the cultural experience appears stronger in the aesthetic and educational realms than in entertainment; and (4) long travel distance and simple facilities are constraints for visitors and, at the same time, may act as natural limits on visitation pressure, a proposition that requires further testing. The study concludes that the appeal of the forest stems from its preservation through local wisdom, so tourism development should rest on customary rules and the decisions of the indigenous community. Because the data come from a single visit, the findings are exploratory and do not represent the diversity of tourists or the community’s perspective.