Economic advancement of rural communities through tourism guide services as a paradigm for sustainable business transformation in the tropics
Keywords:
Sustainable tourism, rural economic development, tracking services, bioresource-based business, ecotourism, community-based economy.Abstract
Rural economies in tropical regions are undergoing complex transformations, primarily driven by increasing urbanisation that alters the socio-economic fabric of village life. This study explores the economic transition in Karang Tengah Village, which has shifted from a predominantly agricultural base to a model centred on community-based ecotourism, with a particular focus on nature trekking guide services. The research aims to develop an inclusive and sustainable rural business model. Employing a mixed-methods explanatory approach, the study integrates actor-based quantitative surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory observations. Five key findings emerge: a substantial shift in primary livelihoods towards tourism; the creation of new employment opportunities for the village’s youth; the pivotal institutional role of PLGS as a community-based management entity; conflict mitigation through adaptive spatial planning; and the emergence of a village business model rooted in biological assets, institutional capacity, and inclusive entrepreneurship. The study concludes that community-based trekking services represent a viable paradigm for sustainable rural development in tropical regions, offering valuable insights and potential for replication in comparable settings.
