Tourism accessibility in protected islands: the case of the Komodo National Park, Indonesia

A novel framework for tourism accessibility in protected islands has been established, identifying three key dimensions—destination accessibility, individual accessibility, and protected island accessibility—that significantly influence tourists' decisions to visit. The study, conducted through surveys of 487 respondents using factor analysis and structural equation modeling, reveals that while convenience (e.g., safety, hygiene, environmental ethics) enhances visitation, protected island accessibility can act as a restrictive factor, potentially limiting tourism to preserve fragile ecosystems. This balance between convenience and constraint is critical for sustainable management, particularly in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Komodo National Park, where mass tourism risks ecosystem degradation. The findings underscore the need to design visitor programs that prioritize ecological preservation while ensuring accessibility remains inclusive yet controlled.

Rahmafitria, F., Dirgahayani, P., Putro, H. P. H., Rosyidie, A., & Hudalah, D. (2022). Tourism accessibility in protected islands: the case of the Komodo National Park, Indonesia. Tourism Review, 78(3), 966–985. https://doi.org/10.1108/tr-03-2022-0110