Local Community Participation in the Development of Intellectual Property Tourism in Bangka Island

Several years ago, the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Law and Human Rights at the time, introduced the concept of intellectual property tourism—a framework that integrates tourism with intellectual works, including communal intellectual property. Given its inherently collective ownership, the existence of intellectual property is inseparable from the communities to which it belongs. Moreover, many forms of communal intellectual property—both in regulatory terms and in concrete practice—are intrinsically linked to natural elements that shape their distinct characteristics, such as geographical indications. Accordingly, the involvement of local communities is essential in the development of this concept, including in Bangka Island. Findings from this research indicate that several local communities across five regencies/municipalities report varying levels of participation: while some acknowledge not being involved at all, others exhibit diverse forms of engagement, depending on the type of communal intellectual property they manage. 1