Ecotourism can serve to reconcile the conflict between human interests and conservation efforts. As such, ecotourism is an option that could create conservation outcome and provide for community management at the same time. Many Indonesian locals hunt sea turtles as the sea turtle trade is their only source of livelihood. Ecotourism can thus generate an alternative form of livelihood for the locals, allowing them to also engage in conservation efforts without compromising their income. Ecotourism can also serve to raise funds for the conservation of sea turtles and generate public interest and awareness regarding sea turtle conservation issues. Lastly, as the eco tour in a region becomes renowned, the locals face more pressure and motivation to engage in conservation efforts in order to keep up the image of the region.

Credit: moreindonesia.com

In Bali, ecotourism is being explored as an approach to conserving sea turtles and this includes the implementation of the ‘adopt-a-nest’ and marine turtle release program. For the ‘adopt-a-nest’ program, visitors are charged 500,000 rupiah to receive a certificate of adoption with updated information on the nesting program. For the marine turtle release program, tourists can pay 100,000 rupiah to release a marine turtle to the wild and receive a certificate acknowledging their contribution to the conservation of marine turtles (Paddock, 2001). The two programs appeal to tourists due to the interactive nature of the program where tourists eventually return home, feeling a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as they have actively contributed to a conservation cause.

Credit: Lisnawati/AP

However, ecotourism also has its downside. In the case study of Derawan, tourism has led to further development in the island to accommodate the increasing number of tourists and this destroys the nesting grounds of sea turtles, ultimately defeating the purpose of conservation. Also, the Turtle Park in Sampalan on the northern tip of Penida Island off Bali has also been known to exploit sea turtles under the pretext of ecotourism. An investigation has found that the sea turtles are being enclosed in holding pens, restricting their freedom. Also, ornaments made from turtle shells are also sold to tourists, undermining the genuine intention behind ecotourism which is to conserve sea turtles (Marinos, 1997).