The study highlights that communities with strong trust, active participation, clear social norms, and well-connected social networks are more capable of collaborating in developing tourism-based economic activities. Such cooperation enables local residents to benefit more evenly from tourism development.
Tourism Villages as a New Engine of Rural Economy
In recent years, tourism villages have become an important strategy for rural economic development in Indonesia. This approach gained strong policy support following the enactment of Law No. 6 of 2014 on Villages, which emphasizes empowering rural communities to become independent, prosperous, and resilient.
In the province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), the regional government has actively promoted a program to develop 99 tourism villages across several districts and cities. The initiative aims to utilize local natural resources, cultural heritage, and community creativity to create sustainable tourism destinations while generating employment and economic growth.
One of the most notable examples is Bilebante Village, located in Pringgarata District, Central Lombok. The village is widely recognized for its scenic rice fields, rural landscapes, and various cultural and culinary attractions.
Tourism activities in Bilebante include:
- Countryside cycling tours through rice fields
- Traditional culinary markets
- Cultural performances such as traditional dances and music
- Local food products including crackers, semprong cookies, and seaweed-based sweets
- Nature-based attractions and photo spots
These attractions have transformed Bilebante into one of Lombok’s emerging tourism destinations that combine nature, culture, and community participation.
Tourism Sector Faced Major Challenges
Despite its rapid development, tourism in Bilebante has faced significant setbacks in recent years. Two major events disrupted the growth of the tourism sector: the 2018 Lombok earthquake and the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Both events led to a sharp decline in tourist arrivals. However, recent data indicate that tourism activity has gradually recovered, with increasing numbers of both domestic and international visitors returning to the village.
Researchers believe that the recovery of Bilebante Tourism Village was strongly supported by the community’s social cohesion and cooperative culture.
Measuring the Impact of Social Capital
To analyze how social relationships influence economic outcomes, the research team applied Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the SmartPLS 4 program. This method allows researchers to examine complex relationships between social and economic variables.
In this study, social capital was measured through four main components:
- Trust among community members and institutions
- Social networks connecting individuals and groups
- Social norms that regulate cooperation
- Community participation in economic and development activities
The researchers also examined collective action, defined as the ability of community members to work together in pursuing shared goals, such as managing tourism activities or developing village-based businesses.
Key Findings of the Study
The statistical analysis reveals strong connections between social capital, collective action, and community income levels.
Some of the key findings include:
- Social capital has a strong positive impact on community income, with a coefficient above 0.5.
- Collective action also contributes positively to income growth, though with a moderate influence.
- Social capital strongly encourages collective action, particularly cooperation between community groups and local government.
- Approximately 65.3 percent of income variation among residents can be explained by social capital and collective action factors.
The results also show that collective action acts as a mediating factor between social capital and income growth. In other words, strong social relationships are most effective when they translate into concrete collaborative activities.
Community Cooperation Drives Tourism Success
According to the researchers, the success of Bilebante Tourism Village is not only due to its natural beauty but also to the strong culture of cooperation among its residents.
Eka Agustiani and colleagues from Universitas Mataram explain that trust among community members, strong social networks, and adherence to shared rules help strengthen collaboration in managing tourism activities.
When residents work together—whether in organizing tourism programs, producing local food products, or operating tourism services—the economic benefits are distributed more widely across the community.
This collaborative model allows tourism to become a community-driven economic system, rather than a sector dominated by a small group of businesses.
Implications for Tourism Village Development
The findings of this study provide important insights for the development of tourism villages across Indonesia and other developing regions.
Several strategies can strengthen the economic impact of tourism villages:
- Strengthening trust and communication within communities
- Building cooperation between residents, local governments, and private sectors
- Encouraging broader community participation in tourism management
- Providing training and capacity-building programs for local entrepreneurs
These approaches not only improve tourism competitiveness but also ensure that economic benefits reach local communities more equitably.
Author Profile
Eka Agustiani is a researcher from Universitas Mataram specializing in rural economic development and community empowerment.
The research team also includes several scholars from the same university:
- Dr. Titi Yuniarti – Universitas Mataram, expert in development economics
- Dr. Abdul Manan – Universitas Mataram, specialist in economic policy and regional development
- Baiq Ismiwati – Universitas Mataram, researcher in community development
- Endang Astuti – Universitas Mataram, researcher in rural economic studies
- Baiq Nurul Windayani – Universitas Mataram, specialist in tourism and village development
Their research focuses on the role of social capital, community participation, and collaborative governance in improving rural welfare.
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