Exploring the public socio-culture of developing endemic animal based ecotourism supporting the sustainable tourism industrial program at Lembe Island Bitung city, North Sulawesi province of Indonesia

Introduction and aim: Bitung City as one of the cities in North Sulawesi Province, has a relatively rapid development due to the existance of a very strategic seaport. Bitung City is located in the northeast of Minahasa land with its territory consisting of a plain at the foot of Mount Dua Sudara and the Island called Lembeh. North Sulawesi is one of the five super priority provinces for the development of Indonesian National Tourism. The increase in the number of foreign tourists in North Sulawesi in 2018 reached 127,879 visitors dominated by tourists from China and those from domestic tourists reached 1,959,899 visitors. Unfortunatly North Sulawesi still lacks new destinations as a form of offering based on the diversity of endemic fauna animals that can be used as a typical North Sulawesi Ecotourism Center, Research Center, Education and Training Center either nationally or internationally. Lembeh Island is estimated to be one of the islands containing various types of endemic flora and fauna animals including rare plants, Celebencis cuscus, Tarsius spectrum, black monkeys (Black macaca nigra), Maleo birds and various other endemic animals. These wealthy animals must be managed properly, in a balanced, sustainable and measurable manner becoming a source of regional original income. This study can provide valuable recommendations for the government formulating new policies and regulations of developing endemic animal-based ecotourism supporting the sustainable tourism industrial program. Method: The method used in this study was the survey method which directly interviews the community with questions that have been prepared in the form of a questionnaire, then the collected data were tabulated and the percentages were calculated. Results: The natural wealth of both endemic flora and fauna found on Lembeh Island is a factor that is the focus of this study related to the age and gender of the community. These two factors are studied because they are also benchmarks for success in developing sustainable endemic animal-based ecotourism businesses on Lembeh Island, North Sulawesi. The profession of work pursued by this community was a positive support for the development of natural ecotourism in Papusungan Village on Lembeh Island, Bitung City. Efforts were actively contributed through the response, understanding and interest of the local community. Scientific information related to endemic wildlife ecotourism can change the mindset of people who were previously less interested and not interested in endemic wildlife ecotourism into an understanding that can provide economic impacts for the community around the endemic wildlife ecotourism development area on Lembeh Island, Bitung City. The Papusungan village officials and the community must significantly know important information as a supporting force of the endemic wildlife ecotourism development. Conclusion: The exploration of the public socio-culture of developing endemic animal-based ecotourism reveals a rich supporting of the sustainable tourism industrial program at Lembe Island Bitung city, North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Key findings from this exploration include the levels of knowledge, understanding, community interest and support from the Papusungan sub-district government of the Lembeh Island area. Implications: The implications of these findings for understanding socio cultures are the majority of people in Papusungan Village who are interested in efforts developing ecotourism of endemic animals. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the integrated supporting factors for the minimal tasks of related agencies providing support for the preservation of endemic animals including their carrying capacity for the sustainability of endemic fauna in Lembeh Island.