Digital transformation and community empowerment in tourism villages: Evidence from Malang Raya, Indonesia

Digital transformation is increasingly promoted as a pathway to strengthen rural tourism; however, empirical evidence on its capacity to empower local communities remains limited. This study investigated the relationship between digital transformation and community empowerment in tourism villages across Malang Raya, East Java, Indonesia. A quantitative explanatory, cross-sectional design was employed, using purposive sampling of 300 key stakeholders directly involved in tourism-village management. Digital transformation was operationalized through technology scope, digital capabilities, ecosystem coordination, and digital architecture, while community empowerment encompassed economic, psychological, social, political, and environmental dimensions. Data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model demonstrated strong reliability and convergent validity. Digital transformation was positively and statistically significantly associated with community empowerment (β = 0.168, t = 2.454, p = 0.014), although its explanatory power and effect size were limited (R² = 0.028; f² = 0.029). These findings suggest that digital transformation serves as an enabling condition rather than an automatic mechanism for empowerment. Therefore, tourism-village digitalization initiatives should be accompanied by human capital development, inclusive participation, institutional strengthening, and equitable access to digital opportunities and benefits.