Transforming Tourism Destination Management: Response to Natural Disasters and the COVID-19 Pandemic - A Case Study of Sembalun Geosite in Indonesia

Abstract

Sembalun is a tourist destination in Rinjani Lombok UNESO Global Geopark which made full with tourists, either local, domestic, or foreign. The 2018 earthquakes, which were followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, became the momentum of transformation of tourism development there. This research aims to investigate the transformation of tourism destination management in Sembalun Geosite following the 2018 earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic. This research uses a qualitative research method with a case study approach. In-depth interviews and participatory observation are primary data collection techniques and literature study is a secondary data collection technique in this research. The transformation was applied as an effort to improve the tourism management based on an evaluation from the DMO, as a response to the implementation of tourism principles in the new normal era, and an effort to make the tourism development in Sembalun Geosite fully sustainable. The transformation was implemented by: (1) changing the orientation of tourism development, from quantity to quality; (2) distributing tourist visits as even as possible; (3) encouraging the tourism management to play their roles orderly and thoroughly; (4) developing tourism based on preservation, not alteration; (5) developing strategies for unique tourism developments; and (6) fostering collaborations among tourism destination organizers in Sembalun Geosite.