PARIWISATA SEBAGAI JEMBATAN ANTARBUDAYA: MEWUJUDKAN KEBERLANJUTAN SOSIAL DI DESTINASI MULTIKULTURAL

TOURISM AS AN INTERCULTURAL BRIDGE: ACHIEVING SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN MULTICULTURAL DESTINATIONS

Abstract

Tourism as a bridge between cultures in multicultural destinations plays a strategic role in strengthening social sustainability in Indonesia, a nation rich in cultural diversity. This article examines how tourism facilitates intercultural encounters, its social impacts, and strategies to achieve social sustainability through inclusive approaches. Based on the concepts of multicultural tourism, social sustainability, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural communication, tourism is viewed as a platform for dialogue that fosters tolerance, community empowerment, and cultural preservation. Challenges such as cultural commercialization and social inequality need to be addressed through cultural education, community involvement, and inclusive policies. The case study of Penglipuran Village, Bali, illustrates the success of community-based tourism in integrating local culture with tourist interactions without compromising cultural identity. The article concludes that participatory tourism can serve as an instrument of cultural diplomacy toward global harmony and a model for other multicultural destinations in Indonesia.