Can Local Community Support Cultural Tourism Development?

Abstract

Tourism is a highly potential sector for improving the economy of society, increasing regional income, and maintaining cultural continuity. In developing tourism, the involvement of local communities as owners and beneficiaries of tourism is essential. This paper aims to explore the role of local communities in cultural tourism development. Are they capable of playing a significant role, and what do they need to enhance their ability to be equal actors alongside others, such as the private sector and the government? To address these questions, the author conducted interviews, observations, and documentation with three Reyog art communities in Ponorogo Regency, Indonesia. The results were analyzed using Miles, Huberman, and Saldana’s analysis technique. The findings show that the role of local communities in cultural tourism development is very limited. This is evident from their low participation, weak organizational capacity, and inadequate access to information. The local community is not involved in tourism planning, and their participation in tourism activities is minimal.