Mapping the Contribution of Kasepuhan Ciptagelar Tourism to Regional Income and Community Economy using the K-Means Clustering Method

Kasepuhan Ciptagelar is part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Ciletuh– Pelabuhanratu Sukabumi, which has great potential as a cultural and ecotourism destination. The uniqueness of ancient Sundanese traditions that remain preserved makes this area attractive to tourists, while also providing opportunities to contribute to the regional economy. This study aims to map the contribution of Kasepuhan Ciptagelar tourism to regional income and community economy using the K-Means Clustering method. Data was obtained through questionnaires and interviews from three main groups, namely the local community, tourists, and government and MSME elements. The analysis shows that the involvement of the local community (58%) is a dominant factor, while tourists (31%) and the government/MSMEs (11%) play an important role in consumption, policy, and business support. The clustering results produced three contribution categories, namely C1 (high) with 216 data points, C2 (medium) with 195 data points, and C3 (low) with 186 data points. The high cluster shows a significant contribution to regional income, the local economy, and infrastructure, despite facing challenges in terms of socio-cultural sustainability. The ANOVA test confirmed significant differences in economic contribution, infrastructure, and socio-cultural sustainability between clusters, while destination appeal was relatively uniform. In conclusion, Ciptagelar tourism has made a positive contribution to the regional economy. The research recommendations focus on strengthening infrastructure, empowering local communities, and innovating tourism packages that preserve culture and enhance destination competitiveness.