Analysis of Ecotourism Potential of Botutonuo Beach in Bone Bolango Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

The ecotourism potential of the beach area in Bone Bolango regency, if developed optimally, is very high. Ecotourism development is a tourism activity that incorporates the principles of environment-friendly attitudes. It emphasizes the aspects of nature conservation, empowerment of the local community’s economic, social, and cultural competence, as well as education. Botutonuo beach is among the coastal areas in Bone Bolango regency with high ecotourism potential. The present study aimed to analyze the ecotourism potential of Botutonuo beach based on the physical, sociocultural, economic, and institutional parameters. It employed an ecological-spatial approach by involving the Geographic Information System (GIS). The research method comprised field observation; the data were retrieved by field measurement, interview, and questionnaire. The data were analyzed in a quantitative manner with descriptive statistical analysis, scoring analysis, and qualitative descriptive analysis to result in the final evaluation score of the site’s ecotourism potentials. The analysis result on the site’s physical parameters (vegetation, environmental hygiene, materials, and water brightness) indicated that the Botutonuo beach has high potential. The same criteria were also given in other physical parameters that consisted of distance, facilities, accessibility, and site attractiveness. Moreover, high ecotourism potential was also shown by the site’s other parameters (institutional, sociocultural, economic, and environmental parameters). The site’s high ecotourism potential was due to the beach’s characteristics. The site is a sandy beach that is naturally formed. On top of that, the community’s contribution to constructing tourism facilities was influential in boosting the ecotourism potentials.

Innovative Ecotourism Product Development Based on the Use of Geographic Information Technologies

“…Properly managed, ecotourism can contribute to the sustainability of protected areas by improving the well-being of local communities, raising public awareness of the values of the environment and natural resources, and by providing additional financial opportunities for conservation, especially in «marginal» (critical) areas, which lack viable economic alternatives (Wall & Ming Su, 2018). Ecotourism is one of the alternative types of tourism, which is considered as one of the ways to improve the economic life of rural communities, because it is thought to be able to provide employment opportunities, business opportunities and improve business skills (Eraku, 2021).…”

“…To this end, companies that operate in the market of domestic and inbound tourism and related industries are looking for a specific destination to further promote the tourist product. In addition, community participation in the development of tourist facilities serves as an added value for the development of ecotourism (Eraku, 2021).…”

Coastal tourism development of Diyonumo Island, East Sumalata District, Gorontalo-Indonesia, based on natural resources and carrying capacity

“…Berdasarkan analisis secara menyeluruh, Pulau Diyonumo masuk pada kategori lokasi yang 'sangat sesuai' dan 'sesuai' untuk dikembangkan menjadi kawasan wisata pantai untuk jenis wisata rekreasi pantai, memancing, dan berkemah. Wisata pantai merupakan kegiatan wisata yang mengutamakan sumber daya pantai dan budaya masyarakat pantai, seperti rekreasi pantai, panorama, resort, berenang, olahraga pantai (voli pantai, jalan pantai, atau lempar cakram), wisata mangrove (Eraku et al, 2021;Pradinata et al, 2015), berperahu, memancing, dan lainnya (Pradinata et al, 2015;Spalding et al, 2017). Untuk pengembangan ke depan, wisata pantai Pulau Diyonumo dapat berbasis ekowisata.…”

Analysis The Potential of Ecotourism In North Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province

“…Following field observations, North Gorontalo Regency has a large potential for tourism resources. This is also supported by its geological conditions such as its morphology, lithology, geological structure, and historical aspects [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. However, there is no further study to support researchers' belief that this location may be transformed into an ecotourism area, hence the data and information supplied are still general.…”