Participatory Digital Narratives in Community-Based Tourism: A Festival Case Study in Cirebon

Abstract

Digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of tourism communication, yet participatory and sustainable digital narrative construction models in community-based tourism remain underexplored. This article aims to analyze the process of digital narrative construction in the Milm Kampung Festival in Cirebon and develop a communication model for sustainable destination transformation. Employing a qualitative approach with case study method and digital narrative analysis, this research involved 12 purposively selected informants from government organizers (Cirebon City Department of Communication, Information, and Statistics/DKIS), neighborhood association (RW) heads participating in the festival, MSME actors, and local cultural figures. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and analysis of social media content and 85 documentary films produced by participating RWs. The findings reveal three phases of digital narrative construction: (1) the pre-production phase emphasizing cross-generational participatory communication, (2) the production phase integrating local knowledge with digital technology, and (3) the distribution phase utilizing social media for narrative expansion. The festival successfully mobilized community participation across 247 RWs, documented diverse culinary heritage assets, and contributed to post-pandemic economic recovery for participating MSMEs. This research develops the Participatory Digital Narrative Communication Model (PDNCM) consisting of four main components: participatory actors, authentic content, integrated channels, and sustainable impacts. The model contributes to tourism communication theory by integrating participatory, narrative, and digital perspectives within sustainable destination development frameworks. Practically, this model offers policymakers a framework for shifting from top-down promotional approaches to facilitative-participatory strategies that empower communities as primary narrative producers across Indonesian tourism destinations.