This research aims to strengthening the existence of indigenous communities in the management of tourism on the island of Bunaken. This type of empirical legal research describes and analyzes the dynamics of strengthening through legal protection of customary law communities in the management of tourism areas. The results showed that by regulation, the Manado local government has given space to indigenous peoples in the tourism territory of Bunaken Island which is handled by the Bunaken National Park Center. However, field findings show that the rights of Bunaken indigenous people are still marginalized by the dominance of the Bunaken National Park Hall institution, and is often not included in the planning and management of tourism development on Bunaken Island. Up till now, there is still a status quo on the status of their customary land, and also on other land rights due to the determination of protected forest status in the Bunaken island area. Thus, it is necessary for the state to intervene in strengthening the existence of Indigenous Peoples, considering that Indonesia is an archipelagic country where most of its territory is inhabited by Indigenous Peoples for generations, especially in national tourism destinations, such as Bunaken Island.