Analyzing residents’ preferences to ecotourism impacts using simple additive weighting: The case of Mount Rinjani National Park, Indonesia

Under the more current paradigm of protected area management, which takes a more integrated approach to conservation and development opportunities, residents are now seen as co-managers of protected areas. Through the Social Representation Theory, Rational Choice Theory, and Social Identity Theory, this study aims to identify the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts of ecotourism perceived by the residents and their priorities/preferences in Mount Rinjani National Park (MNRP). This study employed the qualitative method (phase 1) and the quantitative method (phase 2). Phase 1 collected primary data through focus group discussion (FGD). The FGD was conducted with 7 participants who were chosen using judgment sampling. Data in the FGD were transcribed and analyzed with content analysis. Results of the analysis in phase 1 were utilized as the basis for analysis in phase 2. Phase 2 collected the data from a survey. Due to the homogeneity of the population, 30 respondents were chosen as the sample using purposive sampling. Data of the survey were analyzed with simple additive weighting. The results showed that the highest preference of the residents was economic impacts, followed by the social-cultural and environmental impacts. From the perspective of Social Representation Theory, it can explain how different people understand and respond to social issues in a community. From the perspective of Rational Choice Theory and Social Identity Theory, although economic impacts rank first, social interest comes first instead of individual interest. Finally, the results of this study can be used as a guide for both the national government (MNRP) and local government (the Culture and Tourism Board) regard to how residents behave towards ecotourism development.</p