A Creative Tourism Strategy Based on Local Culture to Create a Memorable Tourism Experience in the Margacinta Tourism Village

Abstract

Purpose-This study aims to analyse how creative tourism activities in Margacinta Tourism Village, Pangandaran Regency, contribute to the quality of the tourist experience through the integration of cultural heritage, creative economy, and participatory tourism practices.

Methodology -A descriptive qualitative approach was employed using observations, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. Data were collected from key tourism stakeholders, including village tourism managers, MSMEs, cultural arts groups, and tourists. The analysis focused on understanding how participatory creative tourism activities shaped tourists' experiences and supported local community development.

Findings-The findings indicate that creative tourism activities—including Badud Cultural Arts performances, Ecoprint Dahon Batik workshops, direct honey-harvesting experiences, Liwet Jolem culinary experiences, and interactive storytelling sessions—significantly enhanced the quality of the tourist experience by encouraging active participation rather than passive consumption. Cultural immersion through traditional performances strengthened perceptions of authenticity, while hands-on workshops enabled the co-creation of memorable tourism experiences. These activities increased tourist satisfaction, reinforced the destination's cultural identity, and generated economic opportunities for local communities through community-based creative tourism packages.

Research Limitations/Implications-As a qualitative case study conducted in a single tourism village, the findings are context-specific and may not be directly generalisable to other destinations. Future studies could employ comparative or mixed-method approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of creative tourism across different rural tourism destinations.

Practical Implications-The study provides practical insights for destination managers, local governments, and community organisations in designing participatory tourism products that integrate cultural heritage, local creative industries, and community empowerment to enhance destination competitiveness and sustainability.

Originality - This study contributes to the creative tourism literature by demonstrating how the integration of cultural arts, local economic activities, and participatory experiences can simultaneously improve tourist experience quality, strengthen destination identity, and support sustainable community-based tourism development in rural destinations.