Assessment of Tourism Development In North Sulawesi Based On The Holistic Geotourism Perspective

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the competitiveness of tourism in North Sulawesi based on a holistic perspective of geotourism. This study was specifically conducted in three regions of North Sulawesi, City of Manado, City of Bitung, and North Minahasa Regency. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative with survey approach. Geotourism study was approached with the cutting-edge approach to what is called experience-oriented based that is gathering all stakeholders in order to determine destination competitiveness. The population in this study consisted of travelers/selected communities, tourism actors, and regulatory policy/government. The results showed that the existence of a gap between perspectives of respondents from group of supply side and demand side have to be solved by an alternative strategies for building of tourism Geotourism as holistic and competitive way. This study also shows that feature of geotourism only has small share in determining competitiveness. Factors of prospective management is the biggest factor in determining competitiveness, followed by a cost-competitive, complete, exotic, and integrated object.