Encountering Sulawesi’s Endemic Primates: Considerations for Developing Primate Tourism in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

The island of Sulawesi, Indonesia is renowned as a birder and diver’s paradise, attracting tourists from around the globe who seek to encounter rare bird species or abundant and unusual marine life. In contrast to other areas of Indonesia (e.g., Bali and Kalimantan), Sulawesi is less known for its primate tourism opportu- nities, despite being home to at least 14 endemic primate species. In this chapter, we explore the possibilities and requisite considerations for developing primate tourism in South Sulawesi, a region of the island with minimal established tourism infra- structure. We argue that cautious, thoughtful, and collaborative development of pri- mate tourism in South Sulawesi have the potential to raise awareness of local primate biodiversity and conservation issues, supplement and diversify local liveli- hoods, curb the acceleration of extractive industries, and provide a valuable contrast to other primate tourism sites across Indonesia. Though the aim of this chapter is to open a dialogue among local stakeholders and international practitioners regarding responsible development of primate tourism in South Sulawesi speci!cally, the con- siderations raised here are relevant in other regions where formal primate tourism remains underdeveloped. In particular, we encourage the consideration of existing