STRENGTHENING TOURISM MANAGEMENT THROUGH CREATIVE ECONOMY ECOSYSTEMS: THE ROLE OF INNOVATION CAPACITY IN MAKASSAR

Abstract

This study develops an integrated model for strengthening tourism management through creative economy ecosystems in Makassar, Indonesia, with particular attention to innovation capacity, digital adoption, relational capital, and blue economy governance. The article was redesigned as a narrative synthesis supported by documentary data from official Makassar and South Sulawesi tourism statistics, government datasets, and Scopus-indexed literature. The analysis synthesizes 50+ scholarly and institutional sources using thematic coding and a Pentagonal Asset Framework that maps human, social, natural, physical, and financial capital. Supporting statistics indicate that Makassar recorded 5,524,000 domestic tourist visits and 95,596 international tourist visits in 2024, showing recovery and renewed pressure on destination governance. The findings show that open innovation, spatial-adaptive innovation, and participatory governance innovation function as complementary mechanisms for converting local assets into resilient destination value. Digital platforms expand market reach for micro, small, and medium creative enterprises, but their effects depend on relational capital, managerial capability, infrastructure, and inclusive institutional coordination. The blue economy provides a relevant sustainability frame for waterfront and coastal tourism, yet environmental degradation, fragmented authority, insufficient financing, and uneven digital literacy remain major barriers. The study contributes to tourism management literature by positioning innovation capacity as a dynamic capability that mediates the relationship between destination assets and sustainable competitiveness. Practically, the model offers policy directions for local governments, destination managers, and creative-economy actors seeking to align tourism growth with ecological integrity and community-based economic resilience.

Keywords: Corporate Innovation Capacity, Creative Economy, Tourism Management, Blue Economy, Destination Resilience, Makassar, MSMEs