Building synergy for sustainability: stakeholder collaboration in Tolitoli’s tourism development

Sustainable tourism has become a global priority, yet existing research predominantly focuses on established destinations, leaving emerging regions underexplored. Addressing this gap, this study examines how stakeholder collaboration shapes sustainable tourism development in Tolitoli Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, an emerging destination with significant ecological and cultural potential but limited institutional capacity. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders, including government actors, businesses, community members and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The analysis applies the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTL) framework to examine how broader contextual factors interact with collaborative governance processes. The findings reveal that stakeholder collaboration plays a critical role in advancing environmental conservation, cultural preservation, local economic empowerment and participatory policy development. However, these outcomes are constrained by resource limitations, weak coordination and policy instability. The study offers a theoretical contribution by demonstrating how stakeholder collaboration is not an isolated governance mechanism but is dynamically shaped by macro-level contextual forces captured through the PESTLE framework, particularly in emerging tourism destinations with limited institutional capacity. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of strengthening participatory governance mechanisms, ensuring policy continuity and providing targeted incentives to support sustainable business practices and community-based initiatives. The case of Tolitoli provides insights for other developing regions seeking to balance tourism growth with environmental and cultural sustainability.