Raja Ampat Study Maps Marine Tourism Profile, Urging Community-Based Ecotourism to Protect Reefs and Local Livelihoods
A team of researchers from Papua University has produced one of the most comprehensive profiles to date of marine tourism in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, highlighting how the region’s world-class biodiversity, local culture, and community-based tourism are tightly intertwined—and why all three are under increasing pressure. The study, published in 2026 in the International Journal of Advanced Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS), was led by Absalom Solossa alongside Selvi Tebaiy, A. Hamid Toha, and Yuanike Kaber. It focuses on three key areas of Raja Ampat: the Manswar Archipelago, Gam Island, and the South Waigeo coastal zone. The findings matter because Raja Ampat’s tourism economy is growing fast, yet its future depends directly on how well its fragile marine ecosystems are protected.
Why Raja Ampat needs a clearer tourism profile
Raja Ampat sits within the Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. More than 550 coral species and around 1,500 fish species have been recorded in its waters, making it a magnet for divers, researchers, and nature travelers from around the world. Tourism in the region has expanded steadily since the early 2000s, driven by rising demand for diving, liveaboard trips, and ecotourism experiences.
By 2024, total tourist visits to Raja Ampat reached approximately 33,277 people, with international visitors far outnumbering domestic travelers. The researchers note that this growth brings both opportunity and risk. Tourism now supports many local livelihoods, but it also places growing pressure on coral reefs, coastal habitats, and traditional ways of life. Until now, policymakers and tourism planners have lacked a detailed, place-based picture of how tourism actually functions across different parts of Raja Ampat. This study fills that gap by mapping tourism potential, activities, infrastructure, cultural dynamics, and conservation challenges in three representative areas.
How the research was conducted
Instead of relying only on statistics or satellite data, the research team worked directly with local communities using a participatory approach. They carried out field observations, mapped villages and natural resources, analyzed seasonal patterns, and held focus group discussions with residents. They interviewed traditional leaders, village heads, tour guides, homestay owners, fishermen, local government officials, and conservation organizations.
The team also reviewed government tourism plans, regional statistics, NGO conservation reports, academic studies, and tourism trends from national and international sources. By combining community knowledge with official data, they built a well-rounded picture of how tourism operates on the ground.
Three different faces of Raja Ampat tourism
The study shows that Raja Ampat is not a single, uniform destination. Each area has a distinct tourism character.
Manswar Archipelago: the busiest marine tourism hub
Manswar, including islands such as Kri and Arborek, is the most developed tourism zone in Raja Ampat. It hosts some of the world’s best dive sites, including Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, and Blue Magic, where nutrient-rich currents attract large schools of fish and manta rays. The area has relatively better infrastructure, with numerous homestays, dive centers, and boats serving tourists. Arborek Village stands out as a model of community-based tourism, offering locally run accommodations and cultural performances.
Gam Island: quieter ecotourism on land and sea
Gam Island attracts birdwatchers eager to see Red Birds-of-Paradise and Wilson’s Birds-of-Paradise in their natural habitat. Morning treks through forest trails are a signature activity. The island’s mangroves and shallow lagoons support kayaking and snorkeling, while sites like Friwen Wall offer impressive coral formations. Compared with Manswar, tourism on Gam is slower-paced and more tightly managed by local communities.
South Waigeo Coast: the gateway and karst landscape icon
The southern coast of Waigeo, including Waisai, Saonek, and Kabui Bay, functions as the main entry point to Raja Ampat. Its dramatic karst scenery—towering limestone islands rising from turquoise waters—has become one of the region’s most recognizable images. Batu Pensil, a slender vertical rock pillar, is a popular landmark. Visitors also explore coastal caves containing stalactites, stalagmites, and in some cases prehistoric rock paintings.
Who visits Raja Ampat—and how they travel
Tourist data from 2024 show visitors arriving from 100 countries. European travelers dominate, particularly from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, followed by the United States. These international tourists typically stay longer—often one to two weeks—and prioritize diving, liveaboard cruises, and nature-based experiences. They also tend to have greater awareness of conservation rules.
Domestic tourists, by contrast, usually stay only two to four days, are more price-sensitive, and concentrate their visits in easily accessible and well-known locations. This difference in travel patterns has implications for infrastructure planning and environmental management.
Local culture as a conservation asset
One of the study’s most important insights concerns the role of indigenous knowledge in protecting the environment. The researchers highlight sasi, a traditional system that temporarily restricts fishing or harvesting in certain areas to allow ecosystems to recover. Far from being an outdated custom, sasi functions as an effective, community-led conservation mechanism that complements formal marine protection policies.
The study argues that sasi also adds cultural value to tourism, giving visitors a deeper understanding of how local communities have managed natural resources for generations. Strong kinship networks, particularly among Papuan communities such as the Biak, further support cooperative homestay businesses that feel authentic to travelers while keeping economic benefits within villages.
Growing environmental and management challenges
Despite its success, Raja Ampat faces mounting pressures. Popular dive sites experience physical stress from boat anchors and high visitor numbers. Climate change and rising sea temperatures threaten coral health, while plastic and microplastic pollution are emerging concerns along some coastlines.
On the social side, many villages lack formal training in tourism management, marketing, and service standards. Coordination between local communities, government agencies, and private operators is often weak, leading to fragmented development. Access to financing for infrastructure and training remains limited, and some communities depend heavily on external investors.
A roadmap for more sustainable tourism
To address these issues, the researchers propose a participatory action plan centered on five priorities:
-Expanding digital promotion and booking systems to help community-run businesses reach global markets.
-Strengthening local institutions, including tourism villages and customary land governance.
-Providing continuous training for guides, homestay operators, and boat crews.
-Improving coordination among government, NGOs, researchers, and tourism companies.
-Creating funding schemes and policies that favor environmentally responsible investment and ensure fair distribution of tourism revenue.
What this means for Raja Ampat’s future
The study concludes that Raja Ampat is not only a travel destination but also a living laboratory for marine science and conservation. Its economic future depends on balancing visitor demand with ecological limits and cultural integrity. When tourism supports conservation and community empowerment, it can strengthen both livelihoods and ecosystems.
As lead author Absalom Solossa from Papua University notes, “Raja Ampat’s tourism can only thrive if the ocean thrives, and the ocean can only thrive if local communities remain central to its stewardship.”
Author Profiles
Absalom Solossa, M.Si. – Lecturer and marine tourism researcher at Papua University, specializing in community-based coastal resource management and ecotourism.
Selvi Tebaiy, M.Si. – Social and cultural researcher at Papua University, focusing on indigenous knowledge, tourism, and sustainable development in Papua.
A. Hamid Toha, M.Si. – Academic at Papua University with expertise in coastal zone management and marine conservation policy.
Yuanike Kaber, M.Si. – Lecturer and researcher at Papua University, concentrating on the relationship between tourism, local communities, and environmental sustainability.
Source
Journal article: Marine Tourism Profile from the Perspective of Ecotourism and Marine Conservation in the Manswar Archipelago, Gam Island and the South Waigeo Coastal Area, Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua
Journal: International Journal of Advanced Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS)
Year: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijatss.v4i1.167
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