Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context

This study investigated the influence of public relations (PR) strategies on stakeholder engagement and community participation in sustainable tourism policies in Tolitoli Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding the application of P...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Sawir, I. Ketut Mastika, Hadi Prayitno, Ayu Lestari, Andi Nur’aini, Daniati Hi. Arsyad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2376163
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author Mohammad Sawir
I. Ketut Mastika
Hadi Prayitno
Ayu Lestari
Andi Nur’aini
Daniati Hi. Arsyad
author_facet Mohammad Sawir
I. Ketut Mastika
Hadi Prayitno
Ayu Lestari
Andi Nur’aini
Daniati Hi. Arsyad
author_sort Mohammad Sawir
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the influence of public relations (PR) strategies on stakeholder engagement and community participation in sustainable tourism policies in Tolitoli Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding the application of PR strategies to sustainable tourism development, particularly in emerging tourism regions like Tolitoli. These areas, on the cusp of tourism development, face challenges in effectively engaging stakeholders and the community. Employing a qualitative case study approach, we examine how PR strategies affect the implementation of sustainable development policies in the local tourism sector. Through interviews with policymakers and stakeholders, focus groups with community members, and a review of PR materials, we selected 27 participants using purposive sampling, based on their relevance to the subject. Effective PR communication is pivotal for policy acceptance, aligning businesses with sustainability, and informing stakeholders and tourists of sustainable tourism. Community participation is transformative, stressing local involvement in culturally sensitive policies. Challenges include countering digital misinformation and balancing development with conservation efforts. Strategic PR is crucial for shaping positive destination images and educating people about the local culture and sustainability. This research provides guidelines for Tolitoli and similar regions, advocating PR training for sustainable tourism and crisis management with transparent communication. Acknowledging the potential variability in stakeholder perceptions and its focus on Tolitoli, this research’s generalizability is limited. Future research should explore PR strategies in diverse settings to understand their long-term impacts and adapt to evolving stakeholder expectations for sustainable tourism.
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spelling doaj-art-5c03b7e4b138482bb164802abfca487b2025-08-20T03:47:06ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862024-12-0110110.1080/23311886.2024.2376163Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian contextMohammad Sawir0I. Ketut Mastika1Hadi Prayitno2Ayu Lestari3Andi Nur’aini4Daniati Hi. Arsyad5Faculty of Social Science and Politics, Universitas Madako Tolitoli, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, IndonesiaFaculty of Social Science and Politics, Universitas Jember, Jember, East Java, IndonesiaFaculty of Social Science and Politics, Universitas Jember, Jember, East Java, IndonesiaFaculty of Social Science and Politics, Universitas Madako Tolitoli, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, IndonesiaFaculty of Social Science and Politics, Universitas Madako Tolitoli, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, IndonesiaFaculty of Social Science and Politics, Universitas Madako Tolitoli, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, IndonesiaThis study investigated the influence of public relations (PR) strategies on stakeholder engagement and community participation in sustainable tourism policies in Tolitoli Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding the application of PR strategies to sustainable tourism development, particularly in emerging tourism regions like Tolitoli. These areas, on the cusp of tourism development, face challenges in effectively engaging stakeholders and the community. Employing a qualitative case study approach, we examine how PR strategies affect the implementation of sustainable development policies in the local tourism sector. Through interviews with policymakers and stakeholders, focus groups with community members, and a review of PR materials, we selected 27 participants using purposive sampling, based on their relevance to the subject. Effective PR communication is pivotal for policy acceptance, aligning businesses with sustainability, and informing stakeholders and tourists of sustainable tourism. Community participation is transformative, stressing local involvement in culturally sensitive policies. Challenges include countering digital misinformation and balancing development with conservation efforts. Strategic PR is crucial for shaping positive destination images and educating people about the local culture and sustainability. This research provides guidelines for Tolitoli and similar regions, advocating PR training for sustainable tourism and crisis management with transparent communication. Acknowledging the potential variability in stakeholder perceptions and its focus on Tolitoli, this research’s generalizability is limited. Future research should explore PR strategies in diverse settings to understand their long-term impacts and adapt to evolving stakeholder expectations for sustainable tourism.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2376163Public relation strategiessustainable tourism policiesstakeholder engagementcommunity participationcrisis managementPier Luigi Sacco, Academic Editor, DiSFiPEQ, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Pescara, Italy
spellingShingle Mohammad Sawir
I. Ketut Mastika
Hadi Prayitno
Ayu Lestari
Andi Nur’aini
Daniati Hi. Arsyad
Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context
Cogent Social Sciences
Public relation strategies
sustainable tourism policies
stakeholder engagement
community participation
crisis management
Pier Luigi Sacco, Academic Editor, DiSFiPEQ, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Pescara, Italy
title Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context
title_full Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context
title_fullStr Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context
title_full_unstemmed Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context
title_short Public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in Tolitoli Regency: a case study in the Indonesian context
title_sort public relations strategies and sustainable tourism in tolitoli regency a case study in the indonesian context
topic Public relation strategies
sustainable tourism policies
stakeholder engagement
community participation
crisis management
Pier Luigi Sacco, Academic Editor, DiSFiPEQ, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Pescara, Italy
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2376163
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