Developing a Digital Tourism Guidebook Model for Community-Based Sustainable Tourism: Insights from Social Studies of Tourism in Nonthaburi and Bangkok, Thailand

Irena Novarlia; Dafa Dhiyaul Haq; Syaharuddin Syaharuddin; Oman Sukirman; Chasya  Nadzira R

doi:10.61255/jeemba.v4i4.1552

Authors

Irena Novarlia Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Dafa Dhiyaul Haq Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Syaharuddin Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Oman Sukirman Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
Chasya Nadzira R Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61255/jeemba.v4i4.1552

Keywords:

Community-Based Tourism, Digital Tourism Guidebook, Halal Tourism, Participatory Knowledge Platform, Sustainable Tourism

Abstract

Digital technologies have enhanced tourism accessibility, information sharing, and visitor engagement. However, most digital tourism initiatives remain destination-oriented and rarely integrate community knowledge, diaspora activities, halal tourism, and collaborative governance. This study develops and validates a digital tourism guidebook model for community-based sustainable tourism based on the socio-cultural, educational, religious, and halal tourism activities of the Indonesian Muslim diaspora community in Nonthaburi and Bangkok, Thailand. Using a qualitative case study, data were collected through interviews with ten key informants, participant observation, document analysis, and expert and stakeholder validation. Thematic analysis identified six themes: socio-cultural documentation, halal tourism and Islamic heritage, fragmented digital information, community participation, digital literacy, and responsible intercultural engagement. These findings informed a participatory digital guidebook model integrating community-generated content, intercultural storytelling, responsible visitor guidelines, collaborative governance, and continuous updating. The model was considered relevant, feasible, and culturally appropriate. This study conceptualizes the digital guidebook as a participatory knowledge platform supporting community empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainable tourism governance.

Abstract views: 10 ,

PDF downloads: 3

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Battour, M., & Ismail, M. N. (2016). Halal tourism: Concepts, practises, challenges and future. Tourism Management Perspectives, 19, 150–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2015.12.008

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE Publications.

Buhalis, D. (2020). Technology in tourism: From information communication technologies to eTourism and smart tourism towards ambient intelligence tourism: A perspective article. Tourism Review, 75(1), 267–272. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-06-2019-0258

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Dangi, T. B., & Jamal, T. (2016). An integrated approach to sustainable community-based tourism. Sustainability, 8(5), Article 475. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8050475

Dangi, T. B., & Petrick, J. F. (2021). Augmenting the role of tourism governance in addressing destination justice, ethics, and equity for sustainable community-based tourism. Tourism and Hospitality, 2(1), 15–42. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp2010002

Fennell, D. A., & Cooper, C. (2020). Sustainable tourism: Principles, contexts and practices. Channel View Publications.

Franklin, A. (2021). The sociology of tourism. Routledge.

Gretzel, U., Sigala, M., Xiang, Z., & Koo, C. (2015). Smart tourism: Foundations and developments. Electronic Markets, 25(3), 179–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-015-0196-8

Guest, G., Namey, E., & Chen, M. (2020). A simple method to assess and report thematic saturation in qualitative research. PLoS ONE, 15(5), Article e0232076. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232076

Iqbal, A., Ramachandran, S., Siow, M. L., Subramaniam, T., & Mohammad Afandi, S. H. (2022). Meaningful community participation for effective development of sustainable tourism: Bibliometric analysis towards a quintuple helix model. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 39, Article 100523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2022.100523

Jiang, T. (2022). A conceptual framework for understanding the intrinsic contestation of cultural heritage tourism in Chinese qiaoxiang. Built Heritage, 6, Article 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-022-00075-9

Kasemsarn, K., & Nickpour, F. (2025). Digital storytelling in cultural and heritage tourism: A review of social media integration and youth engagement frameworks. Heritage, 8(6), Article 200. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8060200

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.

Nurhayati, I., Gustiawati, S., Rofiáh, R., Pujiastuti, S., Mutmainah, I., Rainanto, B. H., Harini, S., & Endri, E. (2025). Community-based halal tourism and information digitalization: Sustainable tourism analysis. Tourism and Hospitality, 6(3), Article 148. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp6030148

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2020). OECD tourism trends and policies 2020. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/6b47b985-en

Pasanchay, K., & Schott, C. (2021). Community-based tourism homestays’ capacity to advance the Sustainable Development Goals: A holistic sustainable livelihood perspective. Tourism Management Perspectives, 37, Article 100784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100784

Qiu, Q., Zuo, Y., & Zhang, M. (2022). Intangible cultural heritage in tourism: Research review and investigation of future agenda. Land, 11(1), Article 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010139

Roxas, F. M. Y., Rivera, J. P. R., & Gutierrez, E. L. M. (2020). Mapping stakeholders’ roles in governing sustainable tourism destinations. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 387–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.09.005

Sigala, M. (2020). Tourism and COVID-19: Impacts and implications for advancing and resetting industry and research. Journal of Business Research, 117, 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.015

Streimikiene, D., Svagzdiene, B., Jasinskas, E., & Simanavicius, A. (2021). Sustainable tourism development and competitiveness: The systematic literature review. Sustainable Development, 29(1), 259–271. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2133

UN Tourism. (2024). Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals progress report 2024. https://www.unwto.org

World Tourism Organization. (2022). UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Zeqiri, A., Ben Youssef, A., & Maherzi Zahar, T. (2025). The role of digital tourism platforms in advancing Sustainable Development Goals in the Industry 4.0 era. Sustainability, 17(8), Article 3482. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083482