Open AccessCarrying Capacity of Diving Tourism in Dampier Strait Marine Conservation Area – District of Raja Ampat
Author(s) -
Renoldy L. Papilaya,
Paulus Boli,
Victor P.H. Nikijuluw
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.179
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/246/1/012060
Subject(s) - raja , carrying capacity , tourism , coral reef , marine protected area , sustainability , fishery , geography , reef , recreation , ecology , archaeology , geology , biology , habitat , paleontology
Raja Ampat has biodiversity in marine waters so it qualifies as a conservation area as well as a tourism destination. The number of tourist visits to this area has increased significantly, from 998 people in 2007 to 29,653 people in 2016. Increasing number of tourists have become a threat if the behavior of tourist are not concerned on the environment sustainability and damage the attractions for diving. Assessment of the carrying capacity of the area becomes an important factor to know for sure the maximum number of visitors that can be accommodated by the region at any given time without causing disturbance to the environment and human. The study was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016. Data collection of dive sites was conducted by measuring the extent of coral reefs, coral slope, coral reef condition, and water depth. Calculation of carrying capacity used is Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC) and Real Carrying Capacity (RCC). There are 15 main dive sites frequented by divers. The number of people allowed to dive based on physical carrying capacity ranges from 20 to 500 diver/day, for Actual carrying capacity (RCC) of 14 - 335 diver/day. Locations that have the lowest carrying capacity on The Passage site and highest on the Melissa Garden site. The process of integrating dive attractions with other tours and monitoring of travel activities is a key factor in the sustainability of Raja Ampat regency tourism.