Environmental economics based on local wisdom: A sustainability study of Gulamo Tourism Village Kampar, Indonesia

The sustainability of tourism villages increasingly depends on the integration of local wisdom amid accelerating globalization and modernization. Gulamo Tourism Village, often referred to as Indonesia's “Green Canyon” due to its crystal-clear waters, towering rock cliffs, and lush tropical forests, represents a unique natural asset. However, without a coherent and locally grounded governance approach, the long-term sustainability of this destination remains vulnerable. This study aims to examine how local wisdom is integrated into the sustainability strategies of Gulamo Tourism Village and to assess the extent to which existing governance practices support inclusive and long-term tourism development. This research employs an exploratory qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, document analysis, and field observations, and analyzed using NVivo 12 Plus to identify key themes and strategic patterns related to sustainability governance. The findings reveal that the Kampar Regency Government has implemented several strategic initiatives to support tourism development. However, the integration of local wisdom remains limited, particularly due to minimal involvement of local communities in decision-making processes. This governance gap weakens the sustainability framework and risks marginalizing local knowledge and social capital. This study contributes to the literature on sustainable tourism governance by highlighting the critical role of community participation in operationalizing local wisdom. It offers policy-relevant insights by recommending stronger collaboration among government, private sector actors, and local communities, alongside sustained investment in infrastructure and human resource capacity building. These findings provide a contextualized model for enhancing the long-term sustainability of tourism villages in Indonesia and comparable developing-country contexts.