The dynamic stage of the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) integrated with community-based tourism in Thematic Kampung Surakarta

Abstract This study aims to analyze the stage of the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) integrated with the concept of Community-based Tourism (CBT) in two thematic kampungs of Surakarta City. CBT is characterized by the involvement of local communities, increasing their ability to benefit from the development that occurs in their environment. Community involvement in tourism is an important foundation for the change and development of the region. The TALC includes six stages: exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, rejuvenation, and decline. The research question is the extent to which creative thematic kampungs can achieve sustainable development and the role of the community in the life cycle. The research employs a case study method using qualitative and quantitative data with qualitative descriptive analysis. The study shows that the stage of TALC in the two thematic kampungs in Surakarta is very dynamic, where the development in tourism kampungs is not always in one stage during a certain period of time but can be in between two, three, or even four stages at the same time. One of the influencing factors is the maturity of the communitas and the role of community-based organizations in the tourist kampung.