International Journal of Ecosystem 2014, 4(4): 190-196 DOI: 10.5923/j.ije.20140404.05 Sustainable Tourism Based on Carrying Capacity and Ecological Footprint at Sapeken Archipelago, Indonesia Agus Romadhon 1,* , Fredinan Yulianda 2 , Dietriech Bengen 2 , Luky Adrianto 2 1 Department of Marine and Science, Trunojoyo University, Kampus Unijoyo, Telang, PO. BOX 2 Kamal Bangkalan 2 Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Bogor Agricultural University Abstract As sustainability has become an important policy issue in small island tourism, there is need to understand the natural limits. These used to know how much small island with their limitation could accommodate tourism needs. Based on that fact, this research aimed to: 1) quantify the environmental carrying capacity for several type of ecotourism in Sapeken archipelago; 2) assessing Sapeken archipelago ability to accommodate ecotourism activities using ecological footprint based from emergy approach; and 3) evaluate sustainability ecotourism activities in Sapeken archipelago. Result showed: 1) Sapeken archipelago have different carrying capacity for each type of ecotourism. For dive tourism 5,330 persons/day, snorkelling 3,590 persons/day, fishing tourism 14,900 persons/day, mangrove tourism 32,100 persons/day and beach tourism 1,990 persons/day; 2) The largest accommodate for tourism are Paliat island (844,000 persons/year) Sepanjang island (217,000 persons/year) and smallest in Sapeken island (50.5 persons/year); and 3) Ecotourism activities in Sapeken archipelago has sustainability (RCC > EF) which indicated by carrying capacity as natural limit is greater than EF as a representation number of tourist can be met. Keywords Sapeken archipelago, Carrying capacity, Ecological footprint, Sustainability, Ecotourism 1. Introduction Sapeken Archipelago is an area consisting of a number of small islands with a several supporting ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangrove ecosystems, coastal ecosystems and fisheries resources [1], indicated as a region with high diversity and susceptible to utilization activities as well [2]. In this regard, the utilization of Sapeken archipelago is in accordance with their limitation as small islands. One of the utilization of small islands is ecotourism activities. Ecotourism is defined as trip activity to places that are relatively not interfere the places, with the purpose of observing and enjoying biological resources, by minimizing environmental impact so as to encourage respect for the local culture and produce benefits that are fair to all users [3]. Moreover, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said that an ecotourism activity is not only nature-based, but also as an effort to maintain biodiversity while improving the welfare of the local community. However, without adequate planning, the purpose of the ecological balance, social, and economic in ecotourism will not materialize and instead the implementation will be causing damage to the environment [4]; [5]; [6]. * Corresponding author: agusromadhon200173@yahoo.com (Agus Romadhon) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ije Copyright © 2014 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved Based on reason above, the planning of ecotourism activities at Sapeken Archipelago requires an assessment of the ability of their ecosystems to provide all aspects required to implement sustainable tourism activities. The assessment approaches used are in the form of: 1) an assessment of the regional carrying capacity (RCC), 2) an assessment of touristic ecological footprint (TEF), and 3) an assessment of the sustainability of ecotourism activities. 2. Methodology This research was conducted at Sapeken Archipelago that formed from a series of small islands chain totalling 201.887 Km 2 areas. The islands chain are located at 6° 46 '- 70° 6' LS 115° and 115° 10'-44 'E, part of the District of Sapeken, Sumenep regency, East Java Province (Figure 1). Primary and secondary data were collected from the study sites as well as from various agencies in Sumenep Government and other relevant agencies. The method in this research as a new quantitative approach with combine ecological footprint and emergy approach. Ecological footprint analysis measures agregat land area required for a given population to exist in sustainable manner. [7]; [8]. Furthermore, emergy is a unit of resource use and work potential, is used to quantitatively evaluate intensity of development [9]; [10]. Based on ecological footprint and emergy approch, used for determine carrying capacity for ecotourism in Sapeken archipelago.