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Sustainable tourism development in the digital era: Assessing the impact of competitive strategies and community participation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This investigation seeks to examine the impact of societal engagement and digital competitive strategies on the sustainability of performance in tourist destinations, in accordance with the criteria established by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Employing a quasi-experimental methodology, the study encompasses 60 tourism destinations situated in Bali, which are divided into experimental and control cohorts. The experimental cohort is subjected to interventions that include modules aimed at community involvement (training), multi-stakeholder forums, and initiatives for digital transformation, whereas the control cohort does not receive any form of intervention. Data is procured through the utilization of questionnaires, interviews, and document analyses, subsequently subjected to analytical techniques such as t-tests, analysis covariance, and structural equation modeling. The results of the investigation reveal that the intervention significantly improves performance sustainability (p < 0.001), with societal participation (β = 0.42) and digital strategy (β = 0.38) recognized as pivotal elements. Additionally, a synergistic interaction between the two variables was detected (β = 0.21), indicating that the amalgamation of active engagement and digital technology enhances the attainment of GSTC criteria. These outcomes corroborate community participation theory of participatory reality and innovation diffusion theory, while concurrently proposing a comprehensive model for sustainable tourism within the context of the digital age. The practical implications entail recommendations for stakeholders to embrace inclusive and technology-driven methodologies in the advancement of tourism destinations. This research enriches the prevailing literature by integrating social and technological viewpoints, whilst also offering guidance for the effective application of GSTC standards.

Source: European Journal of Sustainable Development Research

DOI: 10.29333/ejosdr/17841

Authors: Putu Ayu Sita Laksmi, Ni Nyoman Suriani, I Gde Wedana Arjawa, Komang Adi Kurniawan Saputra

Institution: Warmadewa University

Language: English

Topic: Community-based Tourism Development and Sustainability

Subfield: Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7127367245