Integrating System Thinking and Network Analysis To Transform Village Tourism: Evidence from Riau Province, Indonesia

Village tourism plays a fundamental role in the development of local economies, cultures, and even sustainable development in rural regions across Indonesia. Yet many Village-owned Enterprises (BUMDes)-managed tourism programs fail to self-sustain beyond the initial success. The purpose of this research is to identify the factors causing a lack of long-term viability and to recommend a systems approach to solving the problem. Using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) integrated with Textual Network Analysis (TNA), the research explores governance issues, fragmented stakeholder participation, and organizational weaknesses in rural tourism management. Findings highlight key barriers, including weak governance, limited community involvement, inadequate capacity, poor infrastructure, and the lack of strategic planning and environmental integration. To address these challenges, the study develops a participatory governance model that emphasizes collaborative planning, capacity building, ecological sustainability, and feedback-based monitoring. By applying SSM in a rural tourism context, the study contributes to both tourism theory and practical governance frameworks. The model offers valuable guidance for policymakers, BUMDes managers, and community leaders seeking to build inclusive, culturally grounded, and sustainable tourism systems.