Multidimensional Sustainability of Coastal Tourism in “Ku” Coastal Area, Parepare City, Indonesia

Coastal tourism development offers significant economic opportunities for coastal communities; nevertheless, it poses environmental and governance challenges that require sustainability-oriented management. Ku Beach, located in Parepare City, South Sulawesi, has experienced increasing tourism activities, highlighting the need for an integrated assessment of its sustainability status. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of coastal tourism at Ku Beach from ecological, economic, social, infrastructure, and institutional perspectives. A multidimensional sustainability assessment was conducted using the Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries-based Multidimensional Scaling (RAPFISH–MDS) approach. Primary data were collected through field observations, questionnaires, and stakeholder interviews, while secondary data were obtained from government agencies and relevant documents. Sustainability indices were calculated for each dimension and classified into standardized sustainability categories. Leverage attribute analysis was applied to identify key factors influencing sustainability performance across dimensions. The results indicate that coastal tourism at Ku Beach is generally sustainable, with high sustainability scores in the ecological (84%), infrastructure (81%), and institutional (90%) dimensions. The social (72%) and economic (60%) dimensions were classified as moderately sustainable, indicating the need for improvement in community capacity building and local economic integration. Stress and goodness-of-fit values confirmed the robustness and reliability of the RAPFISH–MDS ordination results. In conclusion, Ku Beach possesses strong environmental conditions, infrastructure support, and institutional governance to sustain coastal tourism development. However, targeted strategies focusing on enhancing local economic benefits and social empowerment are required to achieve balanced and long-term sustainability. The findings provide a scientific basis for policy formulation and adaptive coastal tourism management in small coastal cities.