The Role of Composite Governance Support in Advancing Sustainable Development of Community Based Tourism in Basilan

Abstract

Community-based tourism (CBT) has been widely promoted as a strategy for sustainable local development due to its potential to generate livelihoods, preserve cultural heritage, and strengthen community participation. Despite growing interest in tourism governance, limited empirical research has examined how multiple governance actors collectively contribute to the sustainability of community-based tourism initiatives, particularly in geographically peripheral and culturally diverse settings such as Basilan Province. Existing studies frequently focus on individual institutions or specific governance levels, providing insufficient understanding of how collaborative governance arrangements influence sustainable tourism outcomes. This gap limits the development of more integrated and context-responsive tourism governance strategies. This study examined the role of composite governance support in advancing the sustainable development of community-based tourism in selected destinations in Basilan Province. Specifically, it analyzed the contributions and interrelationships of governance actors and examined how composite governance support facilitates sustainable development practices within community-based tourism. A descriptive qualitative research design was employed using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and structured surveys involving tourism officers, community leaders, government representatives, tourism association members, and partner organizations across four community based tourism destinations. The findings revealed that sustainable tourism development is strengthened through the collaborative engagement of community organizations, local government units, regional agencies, national institutions, non-government organizations, and development partners. These actors contribute complementary forms of support and maintain interdependent relationships that enable tourism communities to sustain operations, strengthen local capacities, and address development needs. Composite governance support further advances sustainable development by reinforcing environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, community empowerment, and local economic opportunities. Differences in sustainability outcomes across destinations were associated with variations in stakeholder engagement, institutional connectivity, and the continuity of governance support. Tourism governance is a collaborative and interconnected system rather than as the responsibility of individual institutions. Strengthening partnerships, stakeholder coordination, and long-term institutional support can enhance the sustainability and resilience of community-based tourism initiatives in Basilan and similar development contexts.