Sustainable Tourism Management Strategy to Strengthen The Competitiveness of Palu City Destinations

Abstract

Tourism played an important role in promoting regional economic growth, employment, and community welfare. However, Palu City’s tourism sector had not yet fully optimized its natural, marine, cultural, culinary, and creative economy potential, while its development continued to face challenges related to infrastructure, institutions, promotion, environmental management, and disaster risk. This study aimed to formulate a sustainable tourism management strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of Palu City as an urban and marine tourism destination. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed through a literature review using secondary data from official statistical publications, government reports, and relevant academic studies. Data were collected through document review and analyzed descriptively and interpretively by categorizing the information into destination planning, stakeholder collaboration, human resource development, digital marketing, infrastructure and environmental management, disaster mitigation, and creative economy development. The findings indicated that tourism competitiveness required integrated and data-driven planning, stronger cross-sectoral institutions, meaningful community participation, improved tourism service competencies, consistent digital promotion, adequate infrastructure, and disaster-resilient destination management. Palu Bay, local culture, culinary products, and creative industries could be integrated into distinctive tourism packages to increase visitors’ length of stay and generate greater local economic benefits. In conclusion, Palu City required a collaborative and sustainable tourism management model that balanced economic competitiveness, community welfare, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and visitor safety.