Local Accommodation And Culinary Services Become Memorable Tourism Experiences: A Community-Based Model For An Emerging Rural Nature Destination Around Ulu Petanu Waterfall

I Gusti Ketut Indra Pranata Darma (Universitas Hindu Negeri I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa)
I Ketut Arta Widana (UHN I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar)
I Wayan Wiwin (UHN I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar)
Ni Nyoman Ocha (UHN I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar)

Sama Jiva Jnanam (International Journal of Social Studies)
Vol 4 No 2 (2026): Samā Jiva Jnānam: International Journal Of Social Studies (IJOSS)

Developing emerging rural tourism destinations increasingly requires a shift from product-oriented tourism development to experience-oriented destination management. However, relatively little attention has been given to integrating locally owned accommodation and culinary services with natural landscapes and community participation to create memorable tourism experiences (MTEs), particularly in emerging nature-based destinations. This study addresses this gap by examining the development of local accommodation and culinary services around Ulu Petanu Waterfall, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. A qualitative case study approach was employed using in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Primary data were obtained from destination managers, local culinary entrepreneurs, accommodation providers, and tourists, while credibility was enhanced through source and methodological triangulation. The findings indicate that Ulu Petanu has developed through a bottom-up process driven by local communities and is currently characterized by the transition from community involvement toward destination development. Five dimensions of memorable tourism experience hedonism, novelty, meaningfulness, involvement, and knowledge—were identified in tourists' experiences. Natural tranquility and rural landscapes contributed strongly to hedonic and novelty experiences, while local food, community interaction, cleanliness, comfort, and accommodation environments contributed to meaningfulness. Nevertheless, involvement and knowledge remain comparatively underdeveloped because tourist participation is predominantly consumptive, and interpretation facilities, English-language information, and experiential activities remain limited. The study proposes an integrated Nature, Accommodation, Local Culinary, Community and Experience model, in which accommodation and culinary services function not merely as supporting amenities but as experiential interfaces connecting tourists with nature and local community life. The model contributes to the literature by integrating community-based tourism, destination development, sustainable tourism, and MTE perspectives within an emerging rural nature destination.