Abstract:
The implementation of the principles of sustainable tourism has long been recommended, but it is unclear how it was proven in the field. Furthermore, the knowledge and attitude of tourism stakeholders against it has not been revealed clearly. This paper aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices undertaken by the community to the principles of sustainable tourism. Data were collected in three tourist villages with 60 local residents as respondents. Survey method using questionnaires was deliberately chosen to collect data about the attributes of the three main variables of sustainable tourism. The empirical evidence shows, that the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the respondents toward the three basic components of sustainable tourism can be classified as good or excellent. They understand that the preservation of the environment, economic empowerment, and social integration of the local communities is fundamental basis for sustainable tourism development. Indeed, further exploration is needed, to clarify the inconsistencies between the knowledge and attitude of the communities, though it is not too obtrusive.
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