An Examination of an Opportunity for Collaboration Among Stakeholders to Promote Conservation in Sea Turtle Tourism in Gilli Trawangan, Indonesia

Allison Anne Mccabe

doi:10.32920/ryerson.14648988.v1

Abstract

All species of sea turtles are globally endangered, largely due to the impact of unsustainable tourism. Gili Trawangan, a small island, depends on marine tourism and has an abundant population of sea turtles. Stakeholder collaboration is often used to promote sustainable tourism development and sea turtle conservation. This study examined stakeholder collaboration to promote conservation in sea turtle tourism in small islands by exploring a case study in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. The study was conducted in 2010. It applied qualitative research methods to expand the knowledge of collaboration in the development of sustainable tourism in small islands. Stakeholder analysis helped to reveal barriers to and influences on tourism development to help promote sea turtle conservation and protect the livelihoods of local communities. Key findings are that education, financial considerations, management structure, regulatory conflict, a disconnect to the island, and stakeholder conflict are factors that influenced stakeholder collaboration in Gili Trawangan.

Highlights

This study focuses on wildlife conservation in the tourism industry, with a particular focus on sea turtle tourism in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
Tourism, sustainable tourism development, and the sea turtle tourism industry in Gili Trawangan are explored in order to contextualize the study
The interest of the Ecotrust was largely in marine protection. This network is important because it may serve as a basis for developing a collaboration that is inclusive of more stakeholder groups on the island to help promote conservation through sea turtle tourism

Summary

Introduction

The following recommendations identify techniques in which collaboration may be developed to promote conservation. The goal of the recommendations is to overcome barriers or challenges that were revealed in order to encourage stakeholder collaboration to promote conservation in sea turtle tourism. The main elements that helped develop collaboration for tourism often included a crisis, common vision, existing networks, strong leadership, incentives and the recognition of interdependencies (Selin & Chavez, 1996; Forester, 1994; Gray, 1985). The recommendations for the management of sea turtle tourism and conservation strive to include stakeholder perceptions regarding management and may help increase the acceptance of the hatchery on the island. The recommendations serve to overcome many of the identified barriers which may help to change perspectives of stakeholders so that they may be more conducive to the development of a multi-stakeholder collaboration

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion