Explore publications.

The transformation of village areas into community-based tourist destinations represents a strategic pathway for achieving sustainable tourism in Indonesia. This study explores the potentials, challenges, and strategic directions for developing Dukuh Mejing, Bantul Regency, as an emerging community-based agro-edutourism village. A qualitative descriptive approach with an intrinsic case study design was employed, involving in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, supported by NVivo 12 Plus for coding and thematic mapping.  The results reveal that Dukuh Mejing possesses strong physical and socio-cultural assets, including modern goat farming, rice-based agriculture, and preserved local traditions such as Nyadran and Kenduri. However, key constraints remain in infrastructure, community awareness, and institutional coordination. The SWOT analysis indicates that strategic development should focus on optimizing agritourism and cultural-based experiences, enhancing community capacity, improving accessibility, and adopting digital innovation to expand market reach.  The findings emphasize that collaborative governance, community empowerment, and innovation-driven competitiveness are fundamental to building a sustainable and resilient village tourism model. This study proposes an integrated framework that aligns community-based tourism principles with destination competitiveness and sustainable planning approaches. Practically, the model provides policy insights for local governments to strengthen participatory planning, institutional synergy, and adaptive monitoring systems. Theoretically, it contributes to the understanding of how village tourism destinations can achieve sustainability through community-led innovation and inclusive governance.

Thulamela's tourism sector has experienced growth in recent years, contributing to a steadily rising regional GDP. However, persistent unemployment and poverty raise concerns about the extent of local community involvement in tourism planning and decision-making, which is essential for ensuring equitable benefits, cultural preservation , and sustainable development. this study examined community participation and interactions with local businesses and authorities in Thohoyandou and surrounding villages within the Thulamela Local Municipality. A quantitative survey involving 304 community members was conducted, and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0 with appropriate statistical techniques. the results reveal a significant gab between communities and administrative governance structure , along with a strong demand for inclusion in the formulation and drafting of tourism policies and participatory planning platforms. This study contributes to the scholarship on community involvement in tourism and offer potential insight for academics, managers, planners and policymakers who seek to enhance inclusive, community-centered tourism governance in developing contexts such as South Africa.

Tourism is increasingly recognised as a catalyst for inclusive development in the Global South. In South Africa, community-based homestays (CBHs) empower rural communities while conserving cultural and environmental assets, yet implementation remains uneven. This study examines the governance and sustainability of CBHs through a case study of the Makwarani village in Limpopo Province. Using an interpretivist qualitative design, ten semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically within Collaborative Governance, Social Exchange, and Sustainable Livelihoods frameworks. Findings reveal that tourism both preserves and commercialises local culture, generates seasonal income, and fosters social cohesion while also producing inequality, environmental strain, and governance fragmentation. Participants stressed the need for equitable benefit-sharing, strong institutional coordination, and community participation. The study concludes that inclusive governance, capacity development, and collaborative management are essential to bridge the policy–practice gap and achieve sustainable, community-driven tourism in South Africa.

This study investigates the prevailing barriers to the development of cultural tourism to become an inclusive and participatory agent of local economic growth in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Using a mixed methods study approach, researchers collected data by giving structured questionnaires and conducting semi-structured interviews in eleven culturally rich areas of the province. Quantitative findings indicate the COVID-19 pandemic significantly eroded tourism growth, followed closely by the lack of local engagement, primarily among the youth and women, largely resulting from the unavailability of information and the lack of support for small businesses. Qualitative findings endorse the stated barriers, indicating the lack of sufficient strategic planning, under-marketing of the culture of tourism, and the lack of integration of such aspects of culture, such as traditional foods and arts, into the touristic products. The study calls for inclusive policies to empower the marginalised communities, the widening of community engagement, and the utilisation of KZN’s cultural resources to drive economic transformation. The study concludes by providing recommendations for responsive governance, strategic marketing, and development paradigms that can reposition the culture of tourism as a viable path for inclusive development in the province.

This paper explores the potential role of indigenous languages in fostering local economic development through cultural-tourism within the Polokwane Local Municipality. As a region rich in cultural diversity and indigenous heritage, Polokwane presents a unique opportunity to leverage its linguistic and cultural assets for sustainable economic growth. This paper discusses how the incorporation of indigenous languages can contribute to various aspects of local economic development, including tourism, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and community engagement. Therefore, this conceptual paper uses a traditional literature review and secondary data analysis techniques to discuss trends of research on the relationship between indigenous language, cultural tourism and local economic development.

This study aims to analyze the problems that occur in the management of tourism villages and develop strategies and solutions to overcome existing problems. This research was conducted in Banjaran Village, Purbalingga, Indonesia. The study was conducted using a mixed research method, namely qualitative-quantitative; this method was used to capture the value or view of experts and practitioners about Tourism Villages in Banjaran Village, Purbalingga Regency. The analysis used in this study is the ANP (Analytic Network Process) method. The respondents selected in this study were experts, practitioners, academics, and regulators competent in tourism village management. The results showed that the problems that arise in developing tourism village potential are five main aspects: Human Resources (HR), capital management, institutions, conflicts of interest, and promotion. The priority solutions offered and considered to be able to solve problems in the development of tourism village potential are divided into six keys, namely, for the resolution of HR problems by increasing HR competence and then recruiting competent workers. In capital management, the solution is to do systematic bookkeeping, make appropriate regulations, and carry out regular coordination, communication, and deliberation. The answer to the conflict of interest problem is to put the community’s interests first and then agree. As well as solving problems in the promos aspect by disseminating event info and publishing management documentation. Strategy Criteria in the Development of Tourism Village Potential is carried out through five primary elements human resources, financial and capital management, institutional/organizational structure, conflicts of interest, and promotion. Through these five important strategic aspects, it can overcome existing problems.

Using a set of attributes of ecotourism principles, this study aims to evaluate the compatibility between community expectations and the performance of implementing ecotourism principles and to find out the actual performance of implementing ecotourism principles in diving tourism practices in Bali from the perspective of the local community. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 234 respondents from indigenous community leaders regarding their expectations of 18 attributes of ecotourism principles and their perceptions of the performance of these attributes. A total of 17 of the 18 attributes of the ecotourism principles have negative performance, meaning that the performance level of these attributes was lower than expected, and one attribute is neutral. Importance-Performance analysis shows that the attributes of ecotourism principles that have performed well and need to be maintained include Minimizing environmental impact, Responsibility for the natural environment, culture, and local wisdom, Use of local products, Use of local workers, and Hospitality in services. On the other hand, the attributes of ecotourism principles that have become weaknesses and need to be focused on for improvement include Partnership with the local community, Increase local capacity Eco-friendly tourism facilities, and Minimizing social impact.

This study aims to explain the behavior of tourist destinations communities toward the Smart Rural Tourism Information System (SRTIS). It reveals through their intentional behavior where the technological environment mediates the relation with their behavior to deliver the information. For this reason, we surveyed selected tourism destinations, where the respondent represented by various community groups. The approach used Planned Behavior Theory to explain behavioral intention. Using the PLS application, we found that the technological environment affects the behavioral intention to convey tourist information. Furthermore, the intention to convey affects conveying information in SRTIS. The research results showed that various tourist destination communities are ready to share information in each destination. The technology environment supports it, communities' cellular phone usage, as a mediation. So, encouraging communities to provide information in the system built will keep the destination sustainable. Hence, we suggest that the local government empower communities to consider more tourism resources and promote them.

The purpose of this study was to see the effect of the establishment of village-owned enterprises (BUM Desa) and the support of the local government in increasing the village's original income. This research has a research sample using the purposive sampling method, namely BUM Desa Dukuh Dempok, and BUM Desa Kemiri. Data was obtained by conducting interviews, observations, and documentation. Interviews were conducted with in-depth interviews with the chairman and management of BUM Desa in Jember. Analysis was carried out on the data and information obtained to obtain research results. Tourism BUM Desa Gumuk Watu and Tourism BUM Desa Kemiri have a role in increasing the village's original income can be seen from the function of facilitator and mediator. The two BUM Desa include the role of the community in building and developing tourism. Local government support for BUM Desa tourism is very important. BUM Desa Wisata Gumuk Watu and BUM Desa Wisata Kemiri received full support from the government in the form of capital and socialization of BUM Desa to the community. The difference in income between the BUM Desa Gumuk Watu and the BUM Desa Kemiri. Tourism BUM Desa of Kemiri experienced a decrease in income by more than 50% but Tourism BUM Desa of Gumuk Watu experienced an increase due to the entertainment needs of the community. These results indicate that BUM Desa which is engaged in tourist areas needs the role of the government in helping to increase their income in the pandemic era.

The tourism industry needs synergies cooperation between Provincial and Regional Governments. Lampung Province, Indonesia today is focusing on the marine tourism industry as one of the welfare solutions for increasing coastal community economic growth in Pesawaran and Tanggamus. The long-term goal of the marine tourism industry policy in both Regency is community governance based on local wisdom. This paper describes the model for developing the tourism industry through a policy of cooperation between regions in Lampung Province which lead to improving people's welfare and determine the marketing side of coastal tourism. There are some concepts that we use: governments approach; policy; marine tourism and tourism industry. The method used is descriptive qualitative. Data obtained through interviews with key informants relevant to this research study. The location of this research is Lampung Provincial Government, Tanggamus Regency Government and Pesawaran Regency Government. The strategies carried out by Pesawaran and Tanggamus Regency governments are focusing on local wisdom and coordination in developing marine tourism industry. The vast array of business according to Page, Stephen J (2014) are interlinked together in the production and delivery of tourism products largely operate for profit.

This research aim as analyzing the influence of community behaviour on the quality of tourism services at Toba Lake North Sumatera. The method of research used mixed between quantitative and the qualitative research. Research sample were taken from 120 head of family at Toba Lake North Sumatera. The technique of data collection of research used documentation study, questionnaires, interviews and observations. The technique data analysis used Simple and Multiple Regression Analysis. The research results showed that there was positive and significant influence between community behavior on the quality of tourism services at Toba Lake North Sumatera. The recommendations of the research stated that it was important to enhance the quality of tourism services by enhancing knowledge, attitude and action about the quality of tourism services so that the quality of tourism services will be increased, and it need to establish tourism school at the Toba Lake North Sumatera