Policy Management in Small Island Tourism: A Case  Study of Poncan Gadang Island, Indonesia

Hamzah Lubis; Prof.Dr.Ir. Sengli J.Damanik; Prof.Ir. Zulkifli Nasution; Prof.Dr.Chalida Fachruddin

Volume : III, Issue : IX, September - 2013

Policy Management in Small Island Tourism: A Case Study of Poncan Gadang Island, Indonesia

Hamzah Lubis, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sengli J. Damanik, Prof. Ir. Zulkifli Nasution, Prof. Dr. Chalida Fachruddin

Abstract :

The government of Indonesia has set some policies on exploiting tourism resources of small islands through the sustainable management program of tourism related activities in order to improve the welfare of the local people in the economic, social and cultural field as well as to enhance regional development. The study investigates the implementation of tourism management policies in Poncan Gadang Island, Sibolga City – Indonesia by tourism stakeholders. The tourism stakeholders include local government, tourism entrepreneurs, tourists and local people. The data of policy implementation were collected by interview method using questionaires. Results of the study showed that implementation of tourism management policies in Poncan Gadang Island had not been sustainable in managing the environment. The policies had not yet improved the welfare of the local people as well as provided multiplier effects in the economy. However,the condition of the coral reefs of the Poncan Gadang Island degraded after the island became a tourist spot. The local people still had low capacity resulting in low participation in managing the environment so that the damage of the coral reefs in there was dominantly conducted by local fishermen. Furthermore, the number of hotels decreased and small scale business in handicraft souvenirs had not been developed yet. In order that tourism management in Poncan Gadang Island is compatible with the policies, it is recommended to change the concept of mass tourism into special interest tourism focusing on natural resources and environment that involves the tourism stakeholders in the implementation.