Local Community Participation In The Management Of Limboto Lake As A Sustainable Tourism Attraction In Gorontalo Regency

Abstract

Lake Limboto has great potential as a tourist destination in Gorontalo Regency. In addition to being a source of livelihood for local people, this area is a qualified natural tourism destination and is always one of the permanent spots for the Limboto Lake Festival every year. However, Limboto Lake is experiencing environmental degradation and declining water quality, and the surrounding community and the government often ignore its management. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how local people contribute to the development of Limboto Lake as an attraction and sustainable tourism destination. This research method used descriptive qualitative methods through observation, with interviews with four informants and documentation. The results of the study show that community participation is still relatively low, based on a study of four tourism elements, namely, accessibility, accommodation, attractions, and ancillary (supporting). Additionally, the lack of awareness and community involvement in environmental conservation activities presents obstacles to sustainable management efforts. Therefore, it is necessary to increase awareness, environmental education, and support from the government and related parties to encourage active community participation in preserving Lake Limboto as a sustainable tourist destination.