NEGOSIASI HOROR MELALUI SPIRITUALITAS ISLAM: KONSTRUKSI MAKNA MISTIS DALAM EKOWISATA GOA JEPANG KALIURANG

Abstract

This study examines how horror narratives at Goa Jepang Kaliurang are negotiated through Islamic spirituality in ecotourism. It addresses a gap in tourism and Islamic studies, where mystical narratives are commonly framed as attractions rather than contested meanings shaped by religion, historical memory, and environmental ethics. Using a qualitative case study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with visitors, local residents, tourism actors, and site managers, complemented by field observations and historical-tourism documents. Data were analyzed using Creswell’s qualitative procedures and Saldaña’s coding process to identify patterns of horror narratives, spiritual interpretation, and environmental ethics. The findings show that mystical experiences are constructed through interactions between fear, historical memory, Islamic understandings of the unseen, and perceptions of sacred-natural space. Rather than eliminating horror narratives, Islamic spirituality redirects them toward reflective tourism that discourages superstition, strengthens historical awareness, and promotes environmental responsibility. The study contributes an Islamic ecotourism perspective for interpreting haunted heritage as a space of spiritual reflection, ethical learning, and ecological stewardship.