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Abstract

Tahura Juanda, an urban forest in Bandung, Indonesia, is a popular recreational destination that offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. The park has significant geological features that showcase the Lembang Fault and the historic eruption of Mount Sunda, in addition to its recreational opportunities. These geological remnants offer vital insights into the benefits that the forest provides to Bandung people. Thanks to a community service grant from a collaboration between STIEPAR Yapari, Exotic Java Trails, and PGWI (the Indonesian Geo-tourism Guides Association), the park recently unveiled the Bagendit (Bandung Geotourism Digital Interpretation) system. Nine interpretive displays featuring QR code technology are part of this program, which aims to improve visitor education. Despite the diverse geology of Tahura Juanda, many visitors remain unaware of its significance. The effectiveness of current interpretive methods—such as the newly implemented Bagendit system—in conveying geological information and engaging tourists is not well understood. Additionally, it is uncertain how well park visitors grasp the area's geological features due to these educational efforts. This study seeks to assess how interpretive displays, particularly the Bagendit system, influence visitor awareness and understanding of the geological importance of Tahura Juanda. The research adopts a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with visitors and management staff and observational studies. Semi-structured interviews, observation checklists and visitor feedback questionnaires are  used to collect data.  Thematic coding of observation notes and interview transcripts is part of the study to identify key trends in visitor experiences and the effectiveness of interpretation techniques. Results show different levels of participation in the Bagendit system. A lot of people see the QR codes on the signs, but not everyone uses them because sometimes the internet is not very good in certain areas. When visitors chat with park workers, they become more curious about the interesting rocks and landforms. The study suggests that improving the internet, telling more people about the QR codes, and showing visitors fun ways to learn about rocks could help everyone enjoy and understand the special geology at Tahura Juanda even more.

Keywords

geotourism interpretive displays visitor awareness urban forests Tahura Juanda

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