Analysis of Ecotourism Development Factors Affecting Local Economic Development at Pamah View Ecotourism, Telagah Village, Sei Bingai District, Langkat Regency

Abstract

This study examines the effect of four ecotourism development factors facilities, accessibility, promotion, and local community participation on local economic development at Pamah View Ecotourism, Telagah Village, Sei Bingai District, Langkat Regency. A quantitative approach using multiple linear regression was applied to 80 household heads directly involved in ecotourism activities, selected through total sampling. The results show that facilities, accessibility, and promotion each exert a positive and significant influence on local economic development, while local community participation shows a negative and significant effect. Simultaneously, the four variables significantly explain 74.1% of the variance in the dependent variable (Adjusted R² = 0.741), with promotion emerging as the most dominant predictor. These findings imply that successful ecotourism development depends not only on the destination's attractiveness but also on facility quality, ease of access, effective promotion, and more importantly the quality rather than the mere quantity of community involvement. This study offers empirical grounding for formulating sustainable ecotourism strategies capable of distributing economic benefits more equitably to local communities.