Tourism-Based Alternative Livelihoods for Small Island Communities Transitioning towards a Blue Economy

Radisti A. Praptiwi, Carya Maharja, Matt Fortnam, Tomas Chaigneau, Louisa Evans, Leuserina Garniati and Jito Sugardjito
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Radisti A. Praptiwi: Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources Management, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
Carya Maharja: Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources Management, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
Matt Fortnam: Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
Tomas Chaigneau: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
Louisa Evans: Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
Leuserina Garniati: Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources Management, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
Jito Sugardjito: Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources Management, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Tourism development has been promoted as an alternative livelihood to reduce the dependence of small island communities on declining marine resources. It is often central to emerging agendas around marine planning and the blue economy. However, relatively little is known about how communities perceive tourism development as an alternative and potentially sustainable livelihood in their area and its implications. This qualitative study tracks a governance system in transition and analyzes the factors perceived by stakeholders to be driving and hindering the adoption of tourism-based livelihoods on small islands in UNESCO’s Taka Bonerate Kepulauan Selayar Biosphere Reserve (Indonesia). The findings indicate that, despite a series of tourism-enhancing investments and initiatives and the positive attitudes of local communities towards it, tourism is not a direct route towards sustainability for small island communities. The benefits of tourism are perceived to be unequally distributed. The lack of education and skills limits participation in new job opportunities, and the incentives to continue destructive fishing inhibits livelihood transition to tourism. The article concludes that tourism cannot be assumed to generate simultaneous benefits for conservation and development without more equitable benefit sharing, the meeting of basic needs in communities, and addressing the drivers of unsustainable livelihoods.

Keywords: sustainable livelihoods; eco-tourism; alternative livelihoods; conservation development; marine planning; blue economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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