KONFLIK MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KEBERADAAN WISATA EDUKASI DAN RELIGI JABAL RAHMAH

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics and forms of community conflict toward the existence of Jabal Rahmah Educational and Religious Tourism in Jango Village, Janapria District, Central Lombok. The study used a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through direct observation, structured interviews, and documentation involving tourism managers, Pokdarwis members, community leaders, and residents who expressed objections to the tourism development. Data validity was strengthened through persistent observation, source triangulation, and reference adequacy, while analysis followed the stages of data collection, reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. The findings show that community resistance emerged from several interconnected issues: the perceived similarity of the Kaaba replica and Jabal Rahmah symbols to sacred objects in Mecca, limited initial socialization, circulation of unclear information concerning land acquisition, concerns about the arrival and behavior of outside visitors, anxiety that youth activities could shift the religious character of the site, and weak communication between village government and tourism managers. Conflict appeared in both open and covert forms. Open conflict included the destruction of decorative photographs and uprooting of date-palm plants, while covert conflict took the form of direct complaints, social-media expressions, rumors, and informal discussions in public spaces. The study concludes that conflict around Jabal Rahmah is not simply a rejection of tourism but a contestation over meaning, information, interests, authority, and the distribution of participation in local tourism development. Strengthening transparent communication, participatory planning, cultural sensitivity, and multi-stakeholder collaboration is therefore essential for sustainable tourism governance.