MICRO-BUSINESSES IN THE SURGI MUFTI RELIGIOUS TOURISM AREA: EXISTING CONDITIONS AND OBSTACLES

Abstract

Tourist attractions are widely recognized as drivers of the local economy because they generate visitor flows, create consumption opportunities, and stimulate the growth of micro-businesses around the destination. However, this positive relationship is not always automatic. This article aims to analyze the empirical portrait of micro-businesses and the structural obstacles that hinder the formation of a tourism-based economic ecosystem around the Kubah Surgi Mufti in Banjarmasin. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with a field study design. Data were gathered through observations and interviews with business actors, site administrators, and residents. Data analysis was conducted using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results indicate that micro-businesses around the Kubah Surgi Mufti are still dominated by small-scale traditional food stalls managed independently by residents. These businesses have limited working capital, generate low monthly turnover, and depend heavily on seasonal pilgrim visits. This condition demonstrates that the multiplier effect of religious tourism has not operated optimally at the grassroots level. These findings confirm that the development of religious tourism cannot rely solely on the presence of pilgrimage sites; rather, it requires strategic regional governance, institutional strengthening, and planned empowerment of MSMEs.