Ecotourism in a Hazardous Small-Volcanic Island: Tidore Island, Indonesia

Abstract

Being known as a small island with the highest volcano in North Maluku Province, Tidore Island is also famed for its exotic ecotourism potential. There are many benefits for areas that have good ecotourism potential, but it is necessary to consider the potential for local disasters. Kie Matubu Volcano is currently in a dormant status and is likely to be active at any time. Regional planning and disaster mitigation should thus go hand in hand, but the complexity of the geographical conditions of a small island requires various prior analyses. This research aims to integrate ecotourism mentioned in Regional Planning with disaster mitigation action in Tidore Island. Combining spatial analysis and social vulnerability can provide an overview of the integration planning and disaster management in this small volcanic island to improve community resilience. However, it still calls for some actions to develop ecotourism areas that co-occur with disaster mitigation efforts. Several villages with high social vulnerability in the western, southern, and eastern parts of the island require additional infrastructures (e.g., port terminals) and functional disaster evacuation facilities as the important aspect while disaster occurs.