Regional Sustainability >

2025 , Vol. 6 >Issue 2: 100213

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsus.2025.100213

Research article

Promoting sustainable mangrove tourism through payments for ecosystem services: Insights from Tongke-Tongke Village, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

  • Abdul MALIK ,
  • Muhammad Ichsan ALI ,
  • Abdul Rasyid JALIL ,
  • Abdul MANNAN ,
  • Rahma MUSYAWARAH
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  • aDepartment of Geography, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, State University of Makassar, Makassar, 90224, Indonesia
    bDepartment of Civil Engineering and Planning Education, Faculty of Engineering, State University of Makassar, Makassar, 90224, Indonesia
    cDepartment of Marine Science, Faculty of Marine Science and Fishery, University of Hasanuddin, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
* E-mail address: abdulmalik@unm.ac.id (Abdul MALIK).

Received date: 2024-06-28

  Revised date: 2025-03-04

  Accepted date: 2025-05-06

  Online published: 2025-05-21

Copyright

, 2025, 2666-660X/© 2025 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems support biodiversity, protect coastal areas, and provide sustainable livelihoods. However, they face significant threats from deforestation and unsustainable land use practices. This study examines the viability of the payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs in promoting sustainable mangrove tourism in Tongke-Tongke Village, Sinjai District, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. We collected data through household surveys, semi-structured stakeholder interviews, and tourist questionnaires to evaluate the economic value of mangrove tourism and tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation. Analytical methods included quantitative descriptive analysis, thematic analysis, travel cost analysis, and contingent valuation method. The results indicated strong community support, with 70.00% of respondents acknowledging sustainable mangrove tourism’s economic, environmental, and cultural benefits. Economic estimates revealed that mangrove tourism generated 943.00 USD/(hm²•a), while tourists’ WTP for conservation ranged from 0.21 to 0.56 USD/(person•month), contributing approximately 11.39 USD/(hm²•a). Despite challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, socioeconomic disparities, and land privatization, this study advocates for integrating the PES programs, enhancing governance frameworks, and fostering local community engagement to ensure equitable benefit distribution and maximize the potential of mangrove tourism. These strategies aim to bolster conservation efforts, improve local livelihoods, and strengthen the resilience of mangrove ecosystems.

Key words： Mangrove tourism; Payments for ecosystem services (PES); Willingness to pay (WTP); Sustainable tourism; South Sulawesi

Cite this article

Abdul MALIK , Muhammad Ichsan ALI , Abdul Rasyid JALIL , Abdul MANNAN , Rahma MUSYAWARAH . Promoting sustainable mangrove tourism through payments for ecosystem services: Insights from Tongke-Tongke Village, South Sulawesi, Indonesia[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2025 , 6(2) : 100213 . DOI: 10.1016/j.regsus.2025.100213

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