Ecotourism development: A case study of Siberut Island, Indonesia.

摘要

Ecotourism, or nature tourism, has received substantial support from the conservation and development communities as a mechanism for achieving local conservation and development goals. The government of Indonesia realizes that tourism industry prospects will continue to grow strongly over the next decades and that its ethnic diversity, natural beauty, and abundant wildlife are promising resources lo increase Indonesia's revenue. Improving Indonesia's position in ecotourism development places additional demands on agencies involved in tourism development, specifically the Ministry of Forestry.;Existing literature on ecotourism development has provided little information and few examples of where ecotourism succeeds and how to achieve it. There are few sample cases answering questions such as: why ecotourism development needs to be undertaken; what its potential benefits and costs are; what ecotourism resources are present in the area and how these resources are experienced; why the local population does not express preferences to the protected areas' policies and how their needs might be met by an ecotourism development program. Indeed, protected area policy makers lack information about how to make ecotourism development plans for their areas.;This research provides information which protected area policymakers in Indonesia can use for effective ecotourism planning and development. More specifically, this research provides an enhanced understanding of the current and future tourism needs in Siberut Island, Indonesia. This was accomplished through an analysis of the history of tourism development in Indonesia and description of the physical, biological, cultural, social, and economic factors that influence the development of ecotounsm in the island. A survey of 114 tourists to Siberut Island and interviews with native population of Siberut Island provide original information.;The research results indicate that while tourism development in Indonesia provides income and employment to the country, current tourism on Siberut Island needs better planning in order to adequately develop the ecotourism concept which aims at supporting conservation efforts by linking management of natural areas with socioeconomic development in local communities. The analysis of current tourism on Siberut Island reveals that the local cultures and natural areas attract visitors to the island, but the native people have not become fully involved in the tourism development planning process. The research identified seven factors as important for future ecotourism development on Siberut Island: (1) market trends, (2) natural resources, (3) cultural resources, (4) government role, (5) private sector role, (6) transportation, and (7) promotion and information.;Based on the results, this study suggests Indonesia should encourage local participation in ecotourism development. For this reason, it presents policy and strategic recommendations for enhancing local participation in ecotourism development.