Human Resources and Local Government Support For Sustainable Tourism Event Development: Evidence From Lahat Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Tourism events can strengthen destination visibility, local identity, and local economic activity, but their continuity depends on the human and institutional capacity that supports event development. This study examines how human resource (HR) capacity and local government support shape sustainable tourism event development in Lahat Regency, Indonesia. A qualitative single-case-study approach was employed. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews conducted from January to March 2026 with five purposively selected informants: three representatives of the Lahat Regency Tourism Office, one community stakeholder, and one business stakeholder. Because the interviews were not audio-recorded, the analysis relied on contemporaneous interview notes that were organized thematically around the three research questions. The findings show a strong convergence across informants. First, HR capacity for supporting tourism events is considered very limited, creating a clear need for continuous and event-specific training. Second, local-government support has been constrained during the two years preceding the interviews because of regional budget-efficiency measures, which resulted in several planned activities not being implemented. One adaptive response has been collaboration with Politeknik Pariwisata Palembang through research and community-service activities, particularly training for local HR capacity development. Third, Lahat possesses important enabling conditions, including cultural and natural assets, strong community interest, and a policy shift toward better-quality tourism development. However, sustainable event development remains constrained by fragmented planning between government and non-government actors, limited supporting infrastructure, insufficient Pokdarwis capacity and funding, and weak cross-sector coordination. The study shows that sustainable local tourism events require the simultaneous strengthening of operational human capacity and governance coordination under realistic fiscal conditions.