Social Capital and Village Autonomy in Tourism Development

Abstract

Community-based tourism village development has emerged as a strategic approach to sustainable rural development in Indonesia. However, the success of tourism village development is not solely determined by natural resource potential and infrastructure support, but is strongly influenced by the social capacity of local communities. Social capital, comprising trust, social norms, and social networks, plays a crucial role in fostering village autonomy in tourism management. This study aims to examine in depth the role of social capital in strengthening the autonomy of Nglanggeran Tourism Village, Patuk District, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, which is widely recognized as a successful example of sustainable community-based tourism development. This study adopts a qualitative approach using a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with key informants, including village officials, tourism managers (Tourism Awareness Group/Pokdarwis), community leaders, youth groups, and local residents. Data collection was complemented by field observations and document analysis. Qualitative data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The analysis framework follows a structure of empirical field findings, verbatim quotations from informants, and theoretical interpretation based on social capital theory. The findings reveal that social capital plays a significant role in strengthening the autonomy of Nglanggeran Tourism Village. Trust is built through transparency in tourism management and village financial administration, which encourages consistent community participation