Ecological and Social Impacts of Tourism and Water Conflict: A Case Study of Paniis Village, Kuningan Regency, West Java, Indonesia

This study examines the ecological and social impacts of the tourism development in Paniis Tourism Village, Kuningan Regency, West Java, with a specific focus on the water resource governance conflict that serve as the primary barrier to sustainability. Using a qualitative case study method, this research involved 20 informants through in-dept interviews (total duration 12 hours), field observations in four meeting sessions (total duration 6 hours), and document analysis of the Cipaniis Detail Engineering Design (DED) planning documents and the Paniis Village Profile. The main findings indicate that the exploitation of the Paniis spring (discharge of 1,200 litres/second) by the Regional Drinking Water Company (PDA) has continued for years without fair benefit-sharing for the village. The village only bears downstream impacts such as water and pollution, while promised revenue sharing has never materialized. This conflict creates a fundamental strategic dilemma: the village faces a choice between developing controlled tourism on village-owned land (Titisara) with limited potential, versus utilizing the superior potential of the Paniis Spring, which is hindered by jurisdictional fragmentation involving the Mount Ciremai National Park Authority (TNGC) and the PDAM. From an ecological perspective, the history of extreme drought (2017-2018) and the inability to enforce bans on soap and detergent used demonstrate the vulnerability of the water resources system. This study recommends resolving governance conflict through data driven advocacy, strengthening capacity for alternative funding proposal development, and implementing community-based ecotourism principles with carrying capacity limits.