The Penta-Helix Synergy for Sustainable Tourism Development in West Bandung Regency in The Post-Pandemic Era

Abstract

Background: The tourism sector plays a crucial role in regional economic development, employment creation, and local income generation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted tourism activities, particularly in regional destinations such as West Bandung Regency, Indonesia. Mobility restrictions, declining tourist arrivals, and prolonged health-related concerns significantly weakened local tourism ecosystems and reduced community-based economic activities. These conditions highlighted structural vulnerabilities in tourism governance and emphasized the urgent need for effective stakeholder collaboration to support post-pandemic recovery and long-term sustainability.
Purpose: This study aims to analyze the role and synergy of Penta-Helix stakeholders—government, business, community, academia, and media—in supporting sustainable tourism development in West Bandung Regency during the post-pandemic period.
Design/methodology/approach: This research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis involving key tourism stakeholders. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns of collaboration, governance mechanisms, and stakeholder roles in tourism recovery.
Findings/Result: The findings reveal that the government plays a dominant coordinating role through a top-down policy approach to manage public health risks and regulate social mobility while facilitating tourism recovery. Business actors contribute through service innovation and the implementation of CHSE standards, local communities support operational compliance at the destination level, academic institutions provide knowledge-based support, and media actors strengthen destination branding and public trust.
Conclusion: The study concludes that effective Penta-Helix collaboration, supported by strong governmental coordination, is essential for rebuilding a resilient and sustainable tourism ecosystem in the post-pandemic era.
Originality/value: This research contributes to sustainable tourism literature by providing a regency-level perspective on post-pandemic tourism governance using the Penta-Helix framework and by highlighting the relevance of top-down coordination as an effective strategy in crisis recovery contexts.

Keywords: penta-helix, post-pandemic, sustainable tourism development, tourism, west bandung regency