In Indonesia, tourism has developed into a strategic sector that integrates various areas of development. The establishment of tourist villages has raised awareness of tourism as a critical development priority at the national level. The Indonesian government promotes rural development through the national program for rural community empowerment, which creates tourism villages identified as Desa Wisata. The implementation of the Desa Wisata label is part of a larger initiative aimed at advancing tourism in Indonesia. Originally established in 1992, this model continues to evolve, with the objective of having 6,192 designated tourist villages across Indonesia by 2025. While the islands of Bali and Java have extensively adopted the policy,there issignificant potential for tourism development in the eastern part of Indonesia, particularly in Raja Ampat in Southwest Papua. This research will begin by defining the Desa Wisata concept within the distinct context of Raja Ampat, specifically focusing on the villages of Arborek, Sauwandarek, and Sawinggrai, utilizing a literature review and empirical data. This will lay the groundwork for understanding the foundational principles of Desa Wisata practice and its importance to the local community. Following this, we will delve into the empirical results to assess the potential of desa wisata in raja ampat as a means of promoting sustainable tourism while honoring the unique identities of each village and analyzing the broader context.

In Indonesia, tourism has developed into a strategic sector that integrates various areas of development. The establishment of tourist villages has raised awareness of tourism as a critical development priority at the national level. The Indonesian government promotes rural development through the national program for rural community empowerment, which creates tourism villages identified as Desa Wisata. The implementation of the Desa Wisata label is part of a larger initiative aimed at advancing tourism in Indonesia. Originally established in 1992, this model continues to evolve, with the objective of having 6,192 designated tourist villages across Indonesia by 2025. While the islands of Bali and Java have extensively adopted the policy,there issignificant potential for tourism development in the eastern part of Indonesia, particularly in Raja Ampat in Southwest Papua. This research will begin by defining the Desa Wisata concept within the distinct context of Raja Ampat, specifically focusing on the villages of Arborek, Sauwandarek, and Sawinggrai, utilizing a literature review and empirical data. This will lay the groundwork for understanding the foundational principles of Desa Wisata practice and its importance to the local community. Following this, we will delve into the empirical results to assess the potential of desa wisata in raja ampat as a means of promoting sustainable tourism while honoring the unique identities of each village and analyzing the broader context.