Optimizing Adaptive Governance for Sustainable Ecotourism in the Gili Matra Marine Conservation Area, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Muhandis Sidqi (Tropical Marine Economic Studies Program, Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB University, Bogor Indonesia)
Dietriech G. Bengen (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University, Bogor Indonesia)
Maret Priyanta (Faculty of Law, Pajajaran University, Bandung, Indonesia)
Eva Anggraini (Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia)
Rendi Nur Setiaji (Tropical Marine Economic Studies Program, Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB University, Bogor Indonesia)
Lilis Sadiyah (National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia)
Tirtadanu (National Research and Innovation Agency, Bogor, Indonesia)

Journal of Fisheries & Marine
Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026): JURNAL ILMIAH PERIKANAN DAN KELAUTAN

Graphical Abstract   Highlight Research 1. SWOT–ISM analysis places Gili Matra MPA in a grow and build position with strong ecological–tourism potential. 2. Key drivers include regulation, zoning effectiveness, enforcement, institutional capacity, and infrastructure. 3. Linkage strategies focus on stakeholder collaboration, monitoring technologies, and local livelihood diversification. 4. EVIKA-based adaptive governance supports sustainable ecotourism and is transferable to similar MPAs.   Abstract The Gili Matra Marine Conservation Area (Gili Matra MPA) in West Nusa Tenggara Province is under growing pressure from rapid marine tourism expansion, while internal governance constraints weaken management effectiveness, thereby increasing the vulnerability of coral reef and seagrass ecosystems to localized degradation. This study aims to optimize adaptive governance for sustainable ecotourism in the MPA through an integrated strategic analysis. Internal and external factors were assessed using analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT), while strategic hierarchies and key driving factors were identified using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). The resulting strategies were aligned with the Conservation Area Management Effectiveness Evaluation (EVIKA) framework to formulate policy-relevant recommendations. The SWOT analysis placed the MPA in the "grow and build" quadrant, noting strong assets but highlighting infrastructure and enforcement gaps. The ISM analysis revealed a lack of "autonomous strategies," instead identifying foundational drivers (regulation, law enforcement, and institutional capacity) that enable linkage strategies (collaboration and monitoring technology). These ultimately support outcome-oriented results like conservation-based tourism products and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes. In conclusion, implementing an adaptive governance roadmap aligned with the EVIKA framework is essential for sustainable management. Beyond its immediate application in Gili Matra, this model serves as a replicable framework for other marine conservation areas with comparable characteristics.