Beyond Policy: Optimizing Community-Based Ecosystems for Sustainable Tourism

Abstract

This study aims to optimize community-based ecosystem governance policy for marine tourism in West Sulawesi. The research background is grounded in the fact that the marine ecosystem in West Sulawesi is deteriorating, a condition that triggers environmental degradation such as the accumulation of plastic waste and low direct economic contribution to local communities. Management of the ecosystem remains suboptimal, threatening the sustainability of marine ecosystem resources. Challenges include a lack of collaboration and roadmaps, a shortage of skilled personnel, and limited community participation. Visitors do not contribute to the local economy; meanwhile, the increase in plastic waste stems from insufficient oversight by government, academia, and tourism industry actors. Information and incentives remain non-transparent, communities have not been optimally involved in resource management, and the reconceptualized 5A + 3S integrated tourism framework (Attractions, Activities, Accessibility, Accommodation, Amenities, plus Security, Safety, Sanitation) has not yet been implemented, nor have the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) been achieved through actor engagement in marine tourism destination governance. This study employs a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation, with local communities, tourism practitioners, and government officials serving as informants. The study emphasizes community-based ecosystem management for sustainable marine tourism in Indonesia, further contributing to ecosystem management toward realizing 15 percent of healthy and productive oceans for sustainable marine tourism, and produces a collaborative governance policy model to optimize the implementation of community-based ecosystems for a better Indonesian tourism sector