The Development Strategy of Batu Papan Natural Bath Tourism Region in Palopo City

The unoptimal development of Batu Papan Natural Bath Tourism Region in Palopo City has resulted in decreased tourist visits number. This study aims to identify and analyze the supporting factors and inhibiting factors and to formulate a development strategy for Batu Papan Natural Bath Tourism Region in Palopo City. This study is a descriptive study with mixed methods approach between quantitative and qualitative analysis. SWOT analysis is used to analyze the existing factors of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and formulate the right development strategy. The findings indicate that the biggest strength and weakness are the good accessibility and the absence of development Master Plan. While the biggest opportunity and threat are the existence of large vacant land and the river condition with floods, overflows and landslides threat. The strategy position is in Quadrant I, namely Aggressive Strategy (S-O) with strategy alternatives: improvement of tourism promotion, formulation of a sustainable development Master Plan, establishing a one-stop payment system, developing creative economy, and improving security.