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This paper examines how governance arrangements for marine conservation tourism in the new regency of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, have evolved as a result of Indonesia's decentralization policy and what role NGOs have played in this process. The analysis shows that over a period of two decades NGOs have played a major co-governance role by informing and mobilizing local communities, by establishing and managing marine protected areas, as well as by supporting the technical and financial capacity of the newly established regional government of Raja Ampat. Over time a patchwork of non-state governance and open co-governance arrangements in marine conservation tourism transformed into more integrated closed co-governance arrangements, in which state authority became more important. NGOs, however, continue to play a pivotal role in marine conservation tourism governance arrangements, even now that a recentralization in Indonesia's marine conservation governance is likely to take place.

Tourism is a multi-sector industry that has the potential to induce investment, consumption, and employment opportunity. Tourists' movement from their place of origin to tourism destination may have an impact on the regional economy of transit place. This study analyses the role of tourism of Raja Ampat Regency in the economic growth of Sorong Municipality as the transit city for tourists heading for Raja Ampat Regency. The steady growth of tourism of Raja Ampat Regency plays role in the growth of tourists arrival in Sorong Municipality but has no impact on the GDRP of the tourism sector of Sorong Municipality.