The purpose of this study is to address the issue of low local participation in ecotourism management in Indonesia, specifically at the Malela Waterfall ecotourism site in Cicadas Village, Rongga District, West Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The research method is action research, which includes observation data gathering, in-depth interviews, and Focus Group Discussions. The findings of the study show that by carrying out the process of developing social infrastructure, namely development that prioritizes strengthening human resources in carrying out social service functions in ecotourism activities such as skill training of residents in the field of ecotourism, massive ecotourism outreach, and strengthening social communities—Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and youth organizations as ecotourism actors. This type of development serves to raise awareness and participation among local inhabitants in Malela Waterfall ecotourism in West Bandung Regency. This promotes harmony and mutually beneficial partnerships among all Malela Waterfall ecotourism stakeholders. Furthermore, increasing community participation benefits the well-being of residents in the tourist region.

1. Abrahams, E., & Bama, H. K. N. (2023). Heritage interpretation as a catalyst for sustainable ecotourism in protected areas: A systematic literature review. Studia Periegetica, 42(2). https://doi.org/10.58683/sp.581
2. Andarani, P., Lestari, D. F., Rezagama, A., et al. (2018). Sustainable Ecotourism Development based on Participatory Rural Appraisal: A Case Study of Thekelan Village, Central Java, Indonesia. In: Proceedings of E3S Web of Conferences; 73, 02019. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20187302019
3. Arintoko, A., Ahmad, A. A., Gunawan, D. S., et al. (2020). Community-Based Tourism Village Development Strategies: A Case of Borobudur Tourism Village Area, Indonesia. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 29(2), 398–413. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.29202-477
4. Arunachalam, A., Parthiban, K. T., & Keerthika, A. (2023). Agroforestry tourism in India-Scope, opportunities and experiences. Indian Journal of Agroforestry, 25(1).
5. Brandon, K. (1993). Basic steps toward encouraging local participation in nature tourism projects. Basic Steps toward Encouraging Local Participation in Nature Tourism Projects, 134–151.
6. Butler, R., & Hinch, T. (2007). Tourism and Indigenous Peoples. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080553962
7. Campbell, S., Greenwood, M., Prior, S., et al. (2020). Purposive sampling: complex or simple? Research case examples. Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(8), 652–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987120927206
8. Cater, C. I. (2017). Tourism on two wheels: Patterns of motorcycle leisure in Wales. Tourism Management, 61, 180–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.02.007
9. Ceballos-Lascurain, H. (2008). Ecotourism and ecolodge development in the 21st century. Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas, 193–203. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845934002.0193
10. Choi, G., Kim, J., Sawitri, M. Y., et al. (2020). Ecotourism Market Segmentation in Bali, Indonesia: Opportunities for Implementing REDD+. Land, 9(6), 186. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9060186
11. Cohen, E. (2012). The Sociology of Tourism: Approaches, Issues, And Findings. Annual Report of Sociology University of Sussex, 12(23).
12. Curug malela keren (@Curug_malela_keren) • Wisata Curug Malela, Rongga, KBB (@curug_malela_keren) • Instagram profile. (n.d.).
13. De Kadt, E. (2016). Social planning for tourism in the developing countries. Annals of Tourism Research, 6(1), 36–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(79)90093-8
14. Desa, C. (2023). The history of Curug Malela (Indonesian). Cicadas village government, Rongga sub-district, West Bandung district.
15. Disparbud Kbb. (2021). Number of Tourists in Curug Malela, West Bandung Regency (Indonesian). West Bandung Regency Tourism and Culture Office.
16. Djuwendah, E., Karyani, T., Wulandari, E., et al. (2023). Community-Based Agro-Ecotourism Sustainability in West Java, Indonesia. Sustainability, 15(13), 10432. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310432
17. Drake, S. P. (1991). Local participation in ecotourism projects. In: Nature tourism: Managing for the environment. Island Press Washington, DC.
18. Dubos, R. (2017). Social capital: Theory and research. Routledge.
19. Durkheim, E. (2014). The division of labor in society. Simon and Schuster.
20. Xplorerongga (@explorerongga) • Instagram photo. (2021). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CLVTTx1JZes/
21. Freeman, R. E. (2010). Strategic Management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge university press. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139192675
22. Garrod, B., Wilson, J., & Bruce, D. (2001). Planning for marine ecotourism in the EU Atlantic Area: Good practice guidance: A summary. University of the West of England.
23. Grum, B., & Kobal Grum, D. (2020). Concepts of social sustainability based on social infrastructure and quality of life. Facilities, 38(11/12), 783–800. https://doi.org/10.1108/f-04-2020-0042
24. Hill, J. L., & Gale, T. (2009). Ecotourism and environmental sustainability: Principles and practice. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
25. Izwar, I., Badaruddin, B., Mulya, M. B., et al. (2020). Potential of Reusam Island to Become Sharia Ecotourism Area. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 30(2 supplement), 827–834. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.302spl07-511
26. Kelly, G. J. (2023). Qualitative Research as Culture and Practice. Handbook of Research on Science Education, 60–86. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367855758-4
27. Kennedy, M. O., Monica, V. V, Maria, A. S. N., & Carlos, A. R. G. (2013). Ecotourism in developing countries: a critical analysis of the promise, the reality and the future. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences, 4(5), 481–486.
28. Kunchamboo, V., & Little, V. (2022). Four ecotourism archetypes: expressing symbolic desires. Journal of Ecotourism, 22(4), 502–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2022.2077355
29. Lasso, A. H., & Dahles, H. (2021). A community perspective on local ecotourism development: lessons from Komodo National Park. Tourism Geographies, 25(2–3), 634–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2021.1953123
30. Lee, T. H., & Jan, F.-H. (2019). Can community-based tourism contribute to sustainable development? Evidence from residents’ perceptions of the sustainability. Tourism Management, 70, 368–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.09.003
31. Lelloltery, H., Pudyatmoko, S., Fandelli, C., et al. (2018). Study of coral reef for marine ecotourism development based on region suitability and carrying capacity in Marsegu Island Nature Tourism Park, Maluku, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 19(3), 1089–1096. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d190342
32. Marlina, S., & Astina, I. K. (2020). Sustainable Marine Ecotourism Management: A Case of Marine Resource Conservation Based on Local Wisdom of Bajo Mola Community in Wakatobi National Park. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 32(4), 1317–1323. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.32419-575
33. Marzo, R. R., Chen, H. W. J., Anuar, H., et al. (2023). Effect of community participation on sustainable development: an assessment of sustainability domains in Malaysia. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1268036
34. Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (2013). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. Sage Publications, Inc.
35. Miller, G., & Torres-Delgado, A. (2023). Measuring sustainable tourism: A state of the art review of sustainable tourism indicators. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(7), 1483–1496. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2023.2213859
36. Murphy, K. (2011). The ecotourism society. Annals of Tourism Research, 2(24), 483–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(97)80027-8
37. Nepal, S. K. (2002). Mountain ecotourism and sustainable development. Mountain Research and Development, 22(2), 104–109. https://doi.org/10.1659/0276-4741(2002)022[0104:MEASD]2.0.CO;2
38. Open Data Jabar. (2021). Wisatawan Di Jawa Barat. Open Data Jabar.
39. Phelan, A., Ruhanen, L., & Mair, J. (2020). Ecosystem services approach for community-based ecotourism: towards an equitable and sustainable blue economy. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(10), 1665–1685. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1747475
40. Quesada-Román, A., & Pérez-Umaña, D. (2020). Tropical Paleoglacial Geoheritage Inventory for Geotourism Management of Chirripó National Park, Costa Rica. Geoheritage, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00485-0
41. Ratta, D. D. (2020). Digital Socialism Beyond the Digital Social: Confronting Communicative Capitalism with Ethics of Care. Triple C: Communication, Capitalism & Critique. Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society, 18(1), 101–115. https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v18i1.1145
42. Robinson, A. M. (2008). Geotourism: Who is a geotourist. Proceedings of the Inaugural National Conference on Green Travel, Climate Change and Ecotourism, Adelaide, Australia, 909–923.
43. Rogošić, S., & Baranović, B. (2016). Social Capital and Educational Achievements: Coleman vs. Bourdieu. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 6(2), 81–100. https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.89
44. Salazar, N. B., & Graburn, N. H. H. (2014). Tourism Imaginaries: Anthropological approaches. Berghahn books. https://doi.org/10.3167/9781782383673
45. Scheyvens, R. (1999). Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities. Tourism Management, 20(2), 245–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(98)00069-7
46. Sirakaya, E., Jamal, T. B., & Choi, H. S. (2001). Developing indicators for destination sustainability. The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism, 411–432. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851993683.0411
47. Sobhani, P., Esmaeilzadeh, H., Sadeghi, S. M. M., et al. (2022). Relationship Analysis of Local Community Participation in Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Protected Areas, Iran. Land, 11(10), 1871. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101871
48. Soulard, J., Park, J., & Zou, S. (2023). Pride in Transformation: A Rural Tourism Stakeholder View. Journal of Travel Research, 63(1), 80–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221143487
49. Suana, I. W., Ahyadi, H., Hadiprayitno, G., et al. (2020). Environment carrying capacity and willingness to pay for bird-watching ecotourism in Kerandangan Natural Park, Lombok, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210557
50. Sukuryadi, Harahab, N., Primyastanto, M., & Semedi, B. (2020). Collaborative-based mangrove ecosystem management model for the development of marine ecotourism in Lembar Bay, Lombok, Indonesia. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(5), 6838–6868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00895-8
51. Towner, N. (2018). Surfing tourism and local stakeholder collaboration. Journal of Ecotourism, 17(3), 268–286. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2018.1503503
52. Wahono, P., Poernomo, D., & Kusumah, M. S. (2019). Strategy for developing sustainable ecotourism. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 361(1), 012014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/361/1/012014
53. Warburton, C. (1999). Marine wildlife tourism and whale watching on the island of Mull, West Scotland. Mull: The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Available online: http://Whaledolphintrust. Co. Uk/Cust_ Images/Research Publications/Marine_Ecotourism. Pdf (accessed on 23 Apr 2023).
54. Weber, J., & Lawrence, A. T. (2014). Business and Society. New York. McGraw Hill.
55. Ziffer, K. A. (2007). Ecotourism: The uneasy alliance. Conservation International.