Creating Community-Based Tourism Resilience

Abstract

This paper explores the collaborative social development achieved between a university in Malang, an industrial paint manufacturer, and the slum community of Jodipan, situated alongside the Brantas River. This marginalised community has overcome significant challenges through applied service-learning projects, transforming it into a vibrant hub and major tourist attraction. These efforts highlight the profound impact of service learning on community development and building commercial resilience. Jodipan offers valuable lessons on grassroots developmental initiatives. Once a slum, it now plays a critical role in the local tourism economy, provisioning new commercial opportunities in the form of hospitality venues, homestays and the retailing of specialist handicrafts. This initiative underscores the importance of partnerships and social initiatives in creating meaningful impacts on disadvantaged communities. This study identifies service-learning as a crucial catalyst in Jodipan's revitalisation as a tourism attraction, drawing on existing literature to analyse its role in the community's transformation. The unique collaborative context of Jodipan's resilience-building efforts amidst poverty and environmental degradation is examined. By foregrounding Jodipan's remarkable experiences, this study demonstrates how service-learning can drive economic empowerment. The ultimate lesson is that community resilience and well-being involve the ability to withstand initial developmental shocks and adapt to new circumstances.