Strategies for Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Guraping Mangrove Tourism Destination, North Maluku

This study emphasizes community-based ecotourism and sustainable development principles to unlock the Guraping mangrove ecosystem's potential in North Maluku as a premier sustainable ecotourism destination. Through a descriptive qualitative approach with case study design, ecological, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions were integrated to devise actionable strategies. Data from interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documentation were analyzed via Miles and Huberman's interactive model (1984) alongside the SOAR framework, revealing strong ecosystem preservation (77.6% good–very good rating) and moderate utilization (56.9% optimal–very optimal), offset by gaps in facilities, information access, and community engagement. Five key strategies emerged: (1) conservation via rehabilitation and environmental education; (2) culturally infused educational tourism products; (3) community empowerment through MSMEs, homestays, and Pokdarwis; (4) enhanced infrastructure; and (5) digital marketing with cross-sector partnerships. Ultimately, a collaborative, locally anchored model, bolstered by policy support, is recommended for resilient mangrove ecotourism advancement.