Destination Management Organization Implementation, Community Empowerment, and Tourism Life Cycle in Eco-Geotourism Development: Evidence from the Merangin Jambi Geopark, Indonesia

This study examines the implementation of Destination Management Organization (DMO) functions, community empowerment, and community involvement within the tourism life cycle in the development of eco-geotourism in Merangin Jambi Geopark, Indonesia. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed using in-depth interviews, field observations, documentation, and data triangulation. Data were obtained from seven purposively selected informants representing the Geopark Management Board, Technical Implementation Unit (UPT), tourism business actors, and local communities, and were analyzed using thematic coding supported by NVivo 12. The findings indicate that DMO functions have developed through collaborative and community-based destination management involving local government, Pokdarwis, Karang Taruna, BUMDes, tourism businesses, and local communities. Community empowerment has generated opportunities across tourism value chains, including homestays, culinary businesses, rafting services, tourism equipment rental, souvenirs, and geoheritage-based products. Community involvement has also contributed to local economic capacity, tourism business development, and destination competitiveness. However, the governance arrangement has not yet evolved into a formally integrated DMO. The diversification of tourism-related activities also indicates characteristics associated with the growth stage of the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC), although the stage cannot be confirmed definitively due to the absence of longitudinal data. The study contributes by integrating DMO implementation, community empowerment, and the tourism life cycle as complementary perspectives for examining eco-geotourism destination governance. Practically, the findings highlight the need to establish a clear DMO regulatory framework, strengthen institutional coordination, build community capacity, develop integrated destination promotion, and implement conservation-oriented governance to support sustainable eco-geotourism and geoheritage conservation.