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Abstract
Pulau Pisang, located in Pesisir Barat, Lampung Province, offers a remarkable diversity of tourist attractions, including stunning marine beauty, abundant fisheries and agricultural resources, as well as preserved cultural and historical heritage. However, the allure of its marine beauty still primarily drives tourism activities, despite the underutilization of this potential. This study aims to analyze visitor travel costs, identify factors influencing visit frequency, and estimate the economic value of Pulau Pisang’s tourism based on its local resources. It focuses on the development of sustainable ecotourism to enhance local community welfare, using the Travel Cost Method (TCM). The results indicate that the average travel cost per visitor is Rp1,335,200. Key factors influencing visit frequency include age, income, and travel costs. The estimated economic valuation of Pulau Pisang’s tourism is Rp2,183,813,162 per year. These findings underscore the need to maximize economic benefits through the development of local resource-based ecotourism, offering valuable insights for more targeted tourism strategies. Pulau Pisang possesses far greater tourism potential than its marine beauty alone. With its rich marine and agricultural resources, as well as its preserved cultural and historical heritage, a well-executed approach can position Pulau Pisang as a model of how ecotourism can not only preserve the environment and nature but also sustainably enhance the well-being of local communities.