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

Abstract

Purpose Accessibility is critical in tourism planning for protected islands, especially when balancing tourism and conservation interests. This study aims to explore the dimensions of accessibility that impact tourists’ decisions to visit protected islands and encourage tourism. The accessibility dimension is essential in designing sustainable tourism management of protected islands. Design/methodology/approach This study was conceptualized by integrating the concept of accessibility in the context of transport accessibility, accessible tourism, protected areas and protected islands. In a sample of 487 surveys, factor analysis and structural equation model-partial least squares were used to examine the physical and nonphysical accessibility dimensions. Findings The primary objective of this study is to build a conceptual framework for the tourism accessibility of protected islands. This study confirms that accessibility is perceived in three dimensions: destination accessibility, individual accessibility and protected island accessibility. It is also found that all three accessibility dimensions have a significant influence on the decision to visit, with protected island accessibility as the lowering factor. This study demonstrates that, theoretically, tourism accessibility in protected islands should be treated as a convenience and restriction to balance the function of protected areas and tourism. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study can be generalized because the notion of accessibility dimensions is derived from a theoretical investigation of several contexts (transport accessibility, accessible tourism, protected areas and island characteristics) to identify more particular aspects. In addition, the results of the theoretical investigation were tested using quantitative methods with high statistical power (80%). However, saturation has not been reached, because thorough research on tourism accessibility on this protected island is still scarce. Within the same framework, application and duplicate research are required to increase the generalizability of the proposed concept. Therefore, the authors recommend further studies to validate the protected islands’ accessibility concept in a broader context by replicating the study in a more diversified timeline, sample and destination setting. Practical implications This study concludes that all dimensions of accessibility in protected islands must be considered from two perspectives: convenience and constraints. Conveniences can be constructed through tourists’ perceptions of accessibility. Destination accessibility should be designed with a “back to nature” mindset, excluding hedonistic elements. Individual accessibility is achieved by applying high safety, hygiene and health standards as well as environmental ethics standards that are consistent with the natural characteristics of the environment. This balance between constraint and convenience demonstrates that, while tourism accessibility must be made as comfortable as possible for all individuals, there are particular areas whose accessibility must be controlled to preserve them. The convenience of accessibility for universal access should not be allowed to lead to mass tourism that affects the ecosystem in protected areas. Originality/value The novelty of this study lies in the finding that the tourism accessibility of protected islands can be divided into three types: destination accessibility, individual accessibility and protected island accessibility. This study also demonstrates the significant influence of accessibility on tourists’ decisions to visit. Accordingly, the protected island accessibility dimension can create a perception of difficult accessibility and lower tourists’ decisions to visit. This study concludes that all elements influencing the perception of tourism accessibility on a protected island must be considered to sustainably manage convenience and restrictions to avoid mass tourism. Therefore, it is recommended that these three dimensions be considered in visitor management programs.

Search strategies in accessible tourism, barrier-free tourism, disabled tourism and easy access tourism literature

“…There are as many interpretations of the concept of AT as there are authors who have contributed to the subject (Darcy and Dickson, 2009; Devile and Kastenholz, 2018; Liasidou et al , 2022; Pasca et al , 2022; Qiao et al , 2023; Rahmafitria et al , 2023; Scheyvens and Biddulph, 2018; Thomas, 2018). Among them, the proposal by Darcy and Buhalis (2011) enjoys widespread acceptance:…”

Strategic Management of Tourist Services: Implications for Business Performance and Customer Satisfaction in Komodo National Park

“…Balancing economic gains with environmental preservation and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction are central issues that demand scholarly attention and practical solutions (Choirisa, 2023;Jaya et al, 2022). Amidst these complexities, there is a growing recognition of the need for research that delves into the strategic management of tourist services within the context of Komodo National Park (Choirisa, 2023;Germanov et al, 2022;Kurniasari, 2019;Rahmafitria et al, 2023). Such research can offer insights into optimizing business performance, fostering sustainable tourism practices, and enhancing overall customer satisfaction, thereby contributing to the long-term viability of the park as a premier tourist destination.…”

Tourism accessibility in a protected area: toward the psycho-social approach

“…The ease of accessing natural areas is a right for everyone, so the concept of "accessible for all" is widely advocated to build justice and equality for all. However, overly easy access to protected areas will pose a new issue: the influx of tourists with ignorant behavior potentially causing environmental damage [2]. This issue highlights the significance of understanding tourism accessibility in protected areas to maintain sustainability.…”