RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MALANG REGENCY: WHAT ABOUT LOCAL COMMUNITY READINESS?

Abstract

The rural areas of Malang Regency have experienced enormous growth in tourism development in recent years. Villages in this region strive to create tourism-related activities by exploring their unique potential. However, the idea of emerging tourism development often originates from a limited number of sources, leading to many villages experiencing failures. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the level of community engagement in tourism development to address this issue. The assessment was conducted by measuring the local residents’ perception of local involvement and government agencies in tourism development in six villages in Malang Regency. Furthermore, the survey method with descriptive statistical analysis was employed to measure the perception of society. The results showed that the community was eager to engage in the formulation of village government policies related to tourism development. They also expected the village to consult with the local community before making any decisions on the development of tourism in their area. Notably, the success and sustainability of tourism development were dependent on the full support of all parties, specifically the local community.