Assessing cultural ecosystem service status for small island tourism: (Case study Sapudi Island, Indonesia)

This study aims to investigate Cultural Ecosystem Service (CES) of Sapudi Island, Indonesia, develop a practical tool for guiding sustainable tourism development, and provide a comprehensive assessment framework for decision-making in small island destinations. To achieve this objective, Cultural Ecosystem Service Index (CESI) was developed and applied to Sapudi Island, integrating six key dimensions, namely recreation and tourism, aesthetic value, spiritual and religious services, educational value, sense of place, and cultural heritage. Subsequently, data were collected from January to October 2024 to compute the composite CESI. The composite CESI for Sapudi Island was 0.47, confirming a “moderate” status. Spiritual and religious values scored highest at 0.75, while educational values scored lowest at 0.17. This study validated CESI as a valuable tool for comprehensive assessment and monitoring of CES, offering crucial insights for evidence-based decision-making in sustainable tourism development in small island contexts. To leverage Sapudi Island’s tourism potential, strategic management was imperative. This included facilitating infrastructure and access, diversifying recreational offerings, fostering visitor experiences through interpretive programs, strengthening cultural heritage, improving community engagement and empowerment, promoting environmental protection, ensuring local benefits, and encouraging sustainable practices. The results emphasized the importance of strategically managing the complex interplay between tourism activities and the ecological integrity of island ecosystems.