DIGITALISASI PARIWISATA DAN EROSI KEARIFAN LOKAL

Abstract

Digitalization has emerged as a transformative force in the tourism industry. It not only reshapes service infrastructures and tourist consumption patterns but also disrupts the cultural value systems of local communities. This paper critically examines how the culture of tourism technology, manifested through digital platforms, social media, and travel applications, has reconfigured the relationship between tourists and local populations, while also triggering various forms of erosion of local wisdom, which serves as the foundation of cultural identity and destination sustainability. This research aims to explore these dynamics in depth, examining the asymmetrical relationship between the power of global technology and local cultural actors in the production and circulation of tourism narratives. Using a qualitative approach that combines critical discourse analysis and digital ethnography, this study explores how the process of digitalization reconstructs meaning, imagery, and cultural practices within the context of tourism. Digitally curated representations of culture often marginalize local values in favor of aesthetics aligned with market logic. As a result, many traditional practices undergo semantic simplification, commodification, or even the loss of their sacredness. The findings of this research reveal that tourism technology is not a neutral entity; rather, it is laden with ideological implications that may undermine the authority of local communities over their cultural heritage. This paper offers a new conceptual framework for developing digital tourism that is not only technologically intelligent but also culturally wise. The primary contribution of this study lies in mapping the levels of cultural vulnerability to digital penetration and formulating tourism policy recommendations that are more inclusive, equitable, and grounded in local values.