Tourist Movement Dynamics in Special Interest Tourism: Spatial Analysis of Rafting Activities on Cicatih and Citarik Rivers

Abstract

Tourism encompasses more than just attractions and points of interest; it also involves the movement of individuals from their place of residence to tourist destinations. Special interest tourism refers to travel activities with a specific and focused objective. In Sukabumi Regency, Cicatih and Citarik rivers, are well known as destinations for whitewater rafting, a prominent form of special interest tourism. This study examines the spatial patterns of tourist movement and the factors influencing these patterns using spatial analysis and chi-square correlation analysis. The findings reveal that spatial movement patterns are shaped by the distinct spatial dimensions of each river. Tourists exhibiting a single pattern of movement tend to have limited mobility and do not travel across multiple directions, in contrast to those with multiple or complex movement patterns. These movement patterns are influenced by various determining factors. Notably, the attractiveness of the destination, tourist motivation, and the duration of stay significantly affect movement behavior. In contrast, a tourist’s place of origin and the number of travel companions were found to have no substantial influence on their movement.