Herry Rachmat Widjaja, Masri Ridwan, Buntu Marannu Eppang, Sabran L, Muhammad Rais Abidin, Quratulaiu Syahirah Awang Ali
Rural tourism has emerged as a key driver for sustainable development, particularly when rooted in community participation and local empowerment. This study explores the sustainable development of tourism in Lembanna Village. Bontobahari District with a focus on community empowerment and participatory planning through the lens of Organisational capacity theory, highlighting the influence of systemic, organisational, and individual capacities. Conducted between 2022 and 2023, the research employed a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with 20 informants, including members of the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), village government officials, tourism stakeholders at the provincial level, and planning consultants. The findings reveal that meaningful community engagement supported using local labour, materials, and culturally responsive design emphasises a significant role in advancing sustainable tourism initiatives. Educational programs that raise awareness of tourism's economic potential have been instrumental in enhancing local support and active involvement. The integration of community knowledge in all stages of development, particularly in the planning and implementation of the Detail Engineering Design (DED), reinforces a bottom-up governance model that aligns with the village's socio-cultural identity and environmental values. This study highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, equitable benefit-sharing, and inclusive policy frameworks to strengthen community resilience and ensure long-term tourism sustainability. © (2025), (Malaysian Institute Of Planners). All rights reserved.
poLITEKNIK PARIWISATA MAKASSAR, Indonesia; Department of Geography; UNIVERSITAS NEGERI MAKASSAR, Indonesia; Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, UNIVERSITI SULTAN ZAINAL ABIDIN, Malaysia
