From digital tools to sustainable outcomes: Empowering human resources for ecotourism development in Indonesia
Budi Rismayadi 1 , Wike Pertiwi 1 * , Bagja Nugraha 2
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1 Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang, INDONESIA2 Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang, INDONESIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study examines the role of digital platforms in advancing sustainable development within the ecotourism sector, emphasizing the mediating effect of human resource empowerment. An integrated model is proposed that links digital platforms to sustainable development outcomes through ecotourism education and nature conservation, with empowerment positioned as the central mechanism. Using a quantitative design, data were collected via questionnaires from 323 respondents actively involved in the ecotourism sector in Bandung, Indonesia, and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with IBM AMOS. The findings confirm that digital platforms significantly enhance human resource empowerment, which subsequently strengthens ecotourism education, nature conservation, and sustainable development. Moreover, empowerment fully mediates the relationship between digital platforms and sustainability outcomes, while education and conservation also contribute directly to sustainable development. This study offers a novel contribution by integrating perspectives from digital transformation, human resource management, and sustainable ecotourism, while advancing theoretical discussions within Digital Civics, the Capability Approach, and Social Exchange. From a practical standpoint, the results highlight that investment in digital platforms must be accompanied by capacity-building initiatives that empower local communities to acquire skills, autonomy, and agency, enabling them to leverage technology for ecotourism education and conservation.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2026, Article No: em0359

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17553

Publication date: 01 Jan 2026

Online publication date: 16 Dec 2025

Article Views: 25

Article Downloads: 10

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