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Abstract
Paisupok Lake in Central Sulawesi represents one of Indonesia’s most promising yet understudied freshwater-based geo-ecotourism destinations. As a karstic inland lake characterized by high ecological sensitivity and distinctive geomorphological features, it holds significant potential to advance sustainable tourism development in peripheral island regions. However, the absence of formal governance mechanisms and limited local institutional capacity have impeded the establishment of a coherent long-term stewardship model. This study aims to conceptualize a community-driven framework for sustainable geo-ecotourism governance at Paisupok Lake by synthesizing insights from secondary data, prior field documentation, and recent literature on geoheritage and community-based tourism. Adopting a qualitative-descriptive design supported by interpretive content analysis, the research integrates environmental, socio-economic, and governance dimensions. The scope includes assessing visitor market potential, identifying existing community stewardship practices, and formulating adaptive pathways for eco-geo management. Findings indicate that the integration of geoheritage conservation and community stewardship can simultaneously enhance environmental protection and livelihood diversification. The proposed conceptual model identifies three interrelated pillars of sustainability: (1) ecological integrity through adaptive conservation, (2) socio-cultural empowerment via participatory stewardship, and (3) economic viability anchored in low-impact tourism activities. The study concludes that freshwater-based geo-ecotourism, when embedded within community-led governance systems, offers an innovative and scalable approach to sustainable destination management across ASEAN’s inland regions. Policy recommendations underscore the importance of inclusive governance frameworks, capacity-building for local stakeholders, and the integration of geotourism values into regional development strategies.