Marine Ecotourism Suitability, Carrying Capacity, and Development Prospects at Pink Beach, East Lombok

Pink Beach, located in Sekaroh Village, Jerowaru District, East Lombok Regency, Indonesia, is characterized by pink sand, scenic seascapes, and potential for swimming, snorkeling, and beach recreation. Tourism planning requires an assessment of site suitability and estimated visitor capacity to support appropriate management. This study aimed to assess tourism suitability using the Tourism Suitability Index (TSI) and estimate the carrying capacity of tourism activities at Pink Beach. The research was conducted in August 2026 using a descriptive quantitative approach involving field observations, environmental measurements, and interviews with 25 respondents. Observations were conducted at three stations approximately 100 m apart. The TSI values were 2.98 at Station 1, 2.82 at Station 2, and 2.68 at Station 3, with a mean of 2.83, placing all three stations in the highly suitable (S1) category. The estimated theoretical carrying capacities were 234 visitors per day for swimming, 38 for snorkeling, and 33 for beach recreation, giving a combined estimate of 305 visitors per day. Of the total reported land area of 169,545 m², 25,224 m² (14.88%) was reported as utilized for tourism. In the marine area, 10,275 m², equivalent to 50% of the reported 20,550 m² area, was utilized for tourism activities. These area estimates describe reported spatial utilization and do not independently establish the suitability of undeveloped areas for tourism. Overall, the surveyed stations showed high biophysical suitability for beach tourism. However, the carrying-capacity estimates require verification of the effective area allocated to each activity and the underlying calculation parameters before being used to set visitor limits. Tourism planning should also consider spatial zoning, waste management, ecosystem protection, and community participation.