Determinants of Marine Ecotourism Sustainability in Gili Matra: The Mediating Role of Tourist Satisfaction

Surya Angga Pranata; M.  Firmansyah; Siti Sriningsih

doi:10.55681/economina.v5i5.2191

Authors

Surya Angga Pranata Universitas Mataram
M. Firmansyah Universitas Mataram, Indonesia
Siti Sriningsih Universitas Mataram, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55681/economina.v5i5.2191

Keywords:

marine ecotourism sustainability, tourist satisfaction, coral reef ecosystem, carrying capacity, stakeholder participation, environmental awareness.

Abstract

This study aims to develop and empirically test a comprehensive model integrating coral reef ecosystem quality, tourism carrying capacity, stakeholder participation, and tourist environmental awareness as determinants of marine ecotourism sustainability in Gili Matra Marine Protected Area (MPA), with tourist satisfaction as a mediating variable. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with purposive sampling of 110 tourists who engaged in snorkeling and/or diving activities at Gili Matra MPA during March–April 2026. The results indicate that coral reef ecosystem quality does not directly and positively influence sustainability; however, it exerts a significant positive indirect effect through tourist satisfaction as a full mediator. Tourism carrying capacity shows no significant effect on sustainability either directly or through mediation, attributed to the severely deteriorated overtourism condition prevailing in the area. Stakeholder participation positively and significantly influences sustainability directly, but not through tourist satisfaction as a mediator, as its impact operates at the structural governance level rather than at the level of individual tourist experience. Tourist environmental awareness emerges as the strongest determinant in the model (β = 0.368; F² = 0.490), positively and significantly influencing sustainability both directly and indirectly through tourist satisfaction as a partial mediator. Tourist satisfaction itself positively and significantly influences marine ecotourism sustainability (β = 0.266; p = 0.020), confirming its role as the central psychological mechanism linking destination conditions to tourists' loyalty behavior and conservation support. The model demonstrates strong explanatory power, with an R² value of 0.728 for tourist satisfaction and 0.692 for marine ecotourism sustainability.

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