DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN INDONESIA: THE ROLES OF COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY KNOWLEDGE, PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE, AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
Ike Janita Dewi
Faculty of Economics, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
[email protected]; [email protected].
Abstract
This study aims to examine the intersection between community-based tourism development and sustainable tourism practices. Sustainable tourism emphasizes the optimization of economic benefits while preserving the natural environment and cultural heritage. In contrast, community-based tourism focuses on actively involving local communities in tourism development, thereby ensuring that they receive direct economic benefits from tourism activities. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the extent to which the principles of sustainable tourism are implemented within community-based tourism initiatives.
This research employs a quantitative approach. The respondents consist of tourism village managers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Tourism villages represent a model of rural tourism in which local communities establish institutions to manage and promote the tourism potential within their respective areas. Yogyakarta was selected as the research site due to its status as a leading region for community-managed tourism, with over 200 tourism villages operating under a framework that is developed by, from, and for the local community. A total of 101 tourism village managers participated as respondents in this study. The questionnaire was administered directly to three selected tourism villages, namely Grogol Tourism Village and Wukirsari Tourism Village. Data were analysed using Partial Least Square utilizing the software of Smart PLS version 4.
In examining the implementation of sustainable tourism development, this study investigates the influence of knowledge about sustainable tourism, the perceived importance of sustainable tourism development, and leadership quality on the sustainable tourism products offered by tourism villages. The study also incorporates the variable of external influences—in the form of government regulations and incentives—as a moderating factor in the relationship between knowledge, perceived importance, leadership quality, and the sustainable tourism products offered.
Results of data analysis reveal that knowledge, perceived importance, and leadership quality all have a positive effect on the sustainable tourism products offered. Moreover, external influences serve as a significant moderator, that is, strengthening the effects of knowledge, perceived importance, and leadership quality on sustainable product development. A notable insight from the findings is that leadership quality has the most substantial influence among the variables studied.
These results indicate that leadership quality within tourism villages plays a critical role in guiding the direction of tourism village development. When local leaders possess a strong commitment to sustainability, their respective villages are more likely to implement sustainable tourism principles effectively. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of external influences in shaping the dynamics of sustainable tourism development at the community level.
In addition to examining the relationships among variables, this research also provides an overview of the tourism products/ packages offered by the two tourism villages. Observations of these tourism products offer more concrete insights into the extent to which sustainable principles are reflected in the services and experiences provided. These observations are also essential for assisting tourism villages in developing offerings that are not only sustainable but also appealing to the tourist market.
The study offers significant implications for the training and mentoring of tourism villages by government agencies and educational institutions. Specifically, the Faculty of Economics at Sanata Dharma University has developed a community development program based on the findings of this research. The research findings suggest that external factors substantially influence tourism villages in their efforts to create sustainable tourism packages. Consequently, continuous training should be implemented. We have adopted selected tourism villages as community partners. The interventions target the cognitive domain, focusing on increasing knowledge about sustainable tourism development. The program also aims to instill the perceived importance of sustainability by fostering awareness that environmental and cultural resources are the key attractions for tourists. Finally, special training is provided to village leaders to cultivate leadership qualities grounded in sustainability awareness.
Keywords: Sustainable tourism development, community-based tourism, leadership, sustainability knowledge, perceived importance, external influences