ECOTOURISM-BASED SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN SIKKA REGENCY

Abstract

This study aims to formulate an ecotourism-based sustainable tourism development strategy in Sikka Regency using SWOT analysis and Internal-External (IE) Matrix. The results show that the main strengths lie in biodiversity, preservation of local culture, and community participation, while weaknesses include limited infrastructure, low human resource capacity, and lack of promotion. External factors show opportunities in the form of global trends in sustainable tourism, NGO support, and digitalization of promotion, but also threats of mass tourism and environmental degradation. The analysis places Sikka Regency in Quadrant I of the SWOT (aggressive growth strategy) and Cell 6 of the IE Matrix (limited consolidation strategy). From these results, SO-based priority strategies were formulated, namely the development of cultural and nature-based thematic tourism, cooperation with NGOs and educational institutions in training and conservation, promotion of sustainable tourism through digitalization, and optimization of strategic locations to make Sikka a model of sustainable tourism in eastern Indonesia.