Assessment of Bunaken Island for sustainable tourism destination using the rapid appraisal for fisheries

Abstract

Development of the tourism industry in marine protected areas (MPAs) brings a new challenge for Bunaken National Park (BNP). In 2016 new flight routes were establish to Manado, creating an increased visitor of tourists from China, producing an unusual situation that could jeopardize the coral reefs ecosystem in Bunaken Island. Encounter new policy to increase tourist volume could lead to destructive mass tourism. This paper presented a recent sustainability measurement of Bunaken Islands as a tourist destination, future challenge, and revisiting successful story management of this National Park. Data was collected from previous research, study, and collaboration with experts and an informant to assess all attributes. The data obtained were analyzed using the rapid appraisal technique for fisheries (RAPFISH). The RAPFISH analysis used 28 attributes to measure destination sustainability, based on four indices: ecological (72,83), economic (55,19), social (34,99), and institutional (47,51). Thus ecological and economic dimensions within the status sustainability in the moderate threshold. The findings of this study could use as an early warning for future management of Bunaken National Park.