Abstract :

This study aims to examine the conflict between tourism and mining in Raja Ampat and Lake Matano, Indonesia, and propose an inclusive governance model for sustainable tourism development. Employing political ecology and development theory, this qualitative case study investigates power dynamics, state-capital relations, and competing development paradigms shaping resource governance. Findings indicate that mining concessions, driven by modernization policies and corporate lobbying, marginalize local communities and threaten ecological integrity, undermining tourism potential. Narratives of “sustainable mining” legitimize extractive activities, while tourism is hindered by weak institutional support and limited community-based strategies. Using dependency theory, we demonstrate that extractive industry benefits disproportionately favor external actors, exacerbating inequalities and sparking local resistance. Despite government efforts to promote tourism as a sustainable alternative, policy inconsistencies and overlapping land-use claims persist due to fragmented governance. This research contributes to sustainable development debates by highlighting how power structures shape environmental outcomes in ecologically sensitive areas. It advocates for governance models integrating conservation, tourism, and equitable benefit-sharing, emphasizing local agency.

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Keywords :

Community participation, Conservation conflicts, Environmental dispossession, state-capital relations, Sustainable Development

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