Residents’ Well-Being and Sustainable Governance in Island Tourism: The Evidence from Aceh, Indonesia

T. Meldi Kesuma (), Riha Dedi Priantana, M. Ridha Siregar, Radhia Humaira and Abdul Muzammil
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T. Meldi Kesuma: Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Riha Dedi Priantana: Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
M. Ridha Siregar: Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Radhia Humaira: Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Abdul Muzammil: Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Teuku Umar, Meulaboh 23681, Indonesia

Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: This study develops and tests an integrated structural equation model (SEM) linking Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC), residents’ quality of life (QoL), and community participation in sustainable tourism governance (STG) across three emerging island destinations in Aceh, Indonesia. Drawing on survey data from 1266 residents, we employ confirmatory factor analysis and covariance-based SEM to (1) assess the direct effects of TALC-derived dimensions on residents’ QoL; (2) examine the influence of residents’ QoL on governance participation; and (3) evaluate both direct and indirect pathways linking TALC to STG. Rather than distinct life cycle stages, we conceptualize and measure residents’ perceptions of destination maturity based on key TALC dimensions, such as infrastructure development, tourism intensity, and institutional coordination. Results indicate that higher perceived destination maturity is positively associated with residents’ QoL (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), and that residents’ QoL strongly predicts governance participation (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). TALC dimensions also directly affect STG (β = 0.23, p < 0.001), with residents’ QoL partially mediating this relationship and accounting for 22.4% of the total effect. Multigroup SEM reveals consistent effect patterns across Weh, Pulo Aceh, and Simeulue. These findings illustrate how TALC-informed perceptions of destination maturity relate to residents’ quality of life and governance participation, suggesting that perceived well-being may play an important role in shaping community engagement in small-island tourism contexts.

Keywords: tourism area life cycle; quality of life; sustainable tourism governance; island tourism; structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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