Local Community Characteristics and Resistance to Tourism Empowerment: An Ethnographic Study in Banteran Village, Banyumas

Community empowerment in rural tourism development often overlooks local socio-cultural characteristics as determinants of program success. This study examines the characteristics of Banteran Village residents in Banyumas Regency and how these characteristics influence their responses to tourism empowerment programs at Embung Banteran. Employing a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews to explore values, preferences, and behaviors shaping community participation. The findings identify four key characteristics: (1) a strong preference for traditional activities centered on the use of the reservoir, particularly fishing; (2) an individualistic mentality in the use of public spaces; (3) resistance to the commercialization of social spaces; and (4) a high adaptive capacity to external changes with strict selectivity. These characteristics give rise to adaptive resistance, a strategy of accepting change in a limited manner while maintaining control over aspects deemed essential to identity and well-being. The study reveals that the main barrier to empowerment is not a lack of adaptability but rather a misalignment between empowerment models and local values. Theoretically, this research contributes through the concept of adaptive resistance; practically, it underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity, understanding local logic, and designing institutional frameworks that accommodate community strategies in preserving autonomy and ensuring the sustainability of rural development.