Disaster impacts, resilience, and sustainability opportunities for Gili Trawangan, Indonesia: transdisciplinary reflections following COVID‐19

Abstract

This article provides transdisciplinary reflections from scientists and local NGO managers on the international small‐island tourism destination of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, concerning the impacts, short and long‐term adaptation strategies, and sustainability opportunities from two disasters occurring in rapid succession: the 2018 Lombok earthquakes and the COVID‐19 pandemic starting in 2020. A brief review of the island's governance challenges sets up our analysis of revisited findings and new empirical insights on how the island's communities have dealt with two unique disaster scenarios over the last three years. We draw on a community resilience framework premised on social capital and collective action theories to position the island's ability to transition towards sustainable tourism post‐pandemic. We conclude with sustainability opportunities going forward.