PERKEMBANGAN KELOTOK SEBAGAI SARANA WISATA SUNGAI DI SIRING TENDEAN KOTA BANJARMASIN TAHUN 2000-2025

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of the kelotok, a boat that originally served solely as a traditional mode of transportation but has since developed into a popular river-tourism attraction for both domestic and international tourists. Beyond its transportation function, the kelotok also plays a vital role in the daily lives of riverside communities. This study employs the historical research method, comprising heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. Data were collected through interviews with community leaders, together with an analysis of supporting documents and literature. The findings indicate that, since the 2000s, the kelotok has experienced a decline in daily passenger numbers, attributable to the growth of land-based transportation and the government's planned development of Taman Siring. Around 2011, however, the kelotok began to regain popularity following the establishment of Taman Siring, when the government subsequently built a pier designated specifically for tourist kelotoks. From that point, the kelotok began to be used as a means of river tourism, including trips to the floating market and leisure cruises along the river. This development has provided economic benefits for the community and has helped preserve local culture, with the role of the kelotok in tourism also contributing to the preservation of river culture as a hallmark of the Banjar community.