Integrated Carrying Capacity of the Marine Tourism Area and Small Island of Mandeh Region and Their Impact on Economic Growth

Abstract

Mandeh marine tourism area is one of the most exotic tourist destination in the West coast of Sumatra with increasing numbers of visits from time to time. The balance and carrying capacity of the environment need to be observed since this area is a fishing ground for source of income of local fishermen. The condition of natural resources, environment and the carrying capacity of the Mandeh tourism area become the focus of this study. This study uses regional and environmental economic approaches with an analysis of integrated carrying capacities. The pressure on land resources in the Mandeh Tourism area is still lower than its carrying capacity which is shown by the positive value of 3.20. The carrying capacity for food supply and beverages is categorized as low. This will lead to high pressure on the ecosystem capacity in this destination area. The high pressure on the Mandeh watershed is one of the consequence in order to pursuing economic growth from the tourism sector. This is lead to increasing of the pollution and environmental degradation as an acceptable side (side effect of economic growth) from the desired economic growth of tourism.