Contribution of Community-Based Festival to the Development of Sustainable Tourism on Karimunjawa Island

Community-based festival is considered as a catalyst for developing sustainable tourism in the destination. This study explores the role of Festival Barikan Kubro as a community-based festival in Karimunjawa Island which contributes to the preservation of the culture and conservation of nature in the sustainable tourism destination. This study is a qualitative case study using ethnographic approach employing participant observation and in-depth interviews to gain a deep understanding on the management of the festival. The triangulation technique is used by comparing the observations, interviews, and documentation of the festival. The data were then thematically coded based on the dimension of festival attributes namely festival atmosphere, interpersonal interaction, cultural symbols, and festival activities. The result of the study showed that community-based festival provides a space for people to reflect on their identity and culture; second, it increases the sense of place and social cohesion; moreover, it increases the awareness to conserve the culture and nature of the destination; lastly, it promotes the destination image as an ecotourism area. In conclusion, the role of community-based festival is highly important in the management of sustainable tourism, and it contributes to the development of sustainable tourism on Karimunjawa Island.