Ecologically benign parameters: setting Bangka Island, East Likupang for a nature ecotourism destination

Likupang was established as a new super-priority tourism destination through the ministerial regulation of Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the tourism benign performance of Bangka Island, a small island targeted as the main underwater attraction within Likupang. Six dive sites were selected from 21 sites available for dive tourism. Tourism Sustainability Index (SI) was estimated based on eight attributes: coral health, coral life-forms, number of fish species, fish diversity index, fish dominance index, water current, water visibility, and water depth. Coral health and life-forms were measured using a point intercept transect of 50 m with three replicates. Fish diversity was measured based on a line-imagery transect of 50 × 10 m² with three repetitions, and species richness was based on total species count. Fish diversity index was calculated based on the presence of each species at each sampling site. Analysis resulted in an average life-coral cover of 37.7±5.7 %, indicating moderate health status. There were 227 fish species found in all dive sites, with a high diversity index of 3.28, and a low dominance index of 0.07. With water depths range between 4-10 m, coral reefs were visible from the surface. These all attributes resulted a sustainability index of 32.4, categorized as almost sustainable. Fish diversity is considered to be the most sensitive attribute affecting the sustainability of a destination. As tourism creates more jobs, local tourism management may involve local fishermen. This new compensation may reduce fish and coral reef extraction.