Regenerative tourism has emerged as a transformative approach that goes beyond sustainability with the purpose to restore and improve the well-being of destinations and their communities. This study examines the relationship between smart tourism destinations and regenerative tourism, with a particular focus on the mediating role of empowering community and competitive productivity. A quantitative research design was employed using questionnaires administered to 150 tourism entrepreneurs in Maluku, specifically in three regions: Ambon City, Central Maluku, and West Seram. Respondents consisted of owners or managers of tourism-related businesses, covering eight types of businesses: marine tourism, cultural tourism, culinary tourism, souvenir shops, local craftsmen, restaurants/cafes, hotels, and travel and tourism agents. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. The research findings indicated that all direct effects and two mediation hypotheses were supported. However, two mediation hypotheses were not supported: (1) smart tourism destinations did not influence regenerative tourism through competitive productivity, and (2) smart tourism destinations did not influence regenerative tourism through the joint mediation of empowering community and competitive productivity. These results highlight the crucial role of empowered communities in advancing sustainable and regenerative tourism practices. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in Maluku to develop smart tourism models that encourage community engagement and strengthen competitive productivity, thus contributing to the broader academic discourse on sustainable tourism development.
Ririmasse et al. (Sun,) studied this question.