Implementation of Governance and Partnership Collaboration on the Competitiveness of Cibunar Village

Abstract

AbstractThe competitiveness of rural tourism destinations is strongly influenced by the effectiveness of governance and the quality of multi-stakeholder collaboration. However, many villages in Indonesia still face challenges in integrating governance structures with inclusive partnerships that involve government, community, private sector, academia, and media. This study explores the implementation of governance and partnership collaboration in strengthening the competitiveness of Cibunar Village, Garut Regency, West Java.A qualitative case study approach was employed, involving in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation with key stakeholders across the pentahelix model. Findings indicate that governance practices in Cibunar are characterized by community-centered decision-making, supported by village government as facilitator, micro-business actors as economic drivers, and academics and media as catalysts. Partnership collaboration has enabled diversification of tourism products, improvement of local branding, and stronger community participation. Nevertheless, challenges remain in aligning short-term economic goals with long-term cultural preservation and sustainability.This study contributes to the discourse on sustainable rural tourism governance by presenting a community-driven collaborative model that emphasizes cultural values as the foundation of competitiveness. The results provide practical implications for policymakers, development practitioners, and village tourism managers in designing strategies that balance governance, partnership, and cultural sustainability.Keywords: rural tourism; governance; partnership collaboration; competitiveness; pentahelix