Absorptive Capacity and Sustainable Performance in Village Tourism: The Mediating Role of Visitor Experience in East Java Indonesia

Iriani, Sri Setyo; Husain, Muhammad; Pribadi, Farid; Sanaji, Sanaji; Hasanah, Inggrit Aulia Wati; Bahalwan, Faiz; Piper, Ivan

doi:10.22059/ijms.2026.403764.678109

Absorptive Capacity and Sustainable Performance in Village Tourism: The Mediating Role of Visitor Experience in East Java Indonesia

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Sri Setyo Iriani ¹

Muhammad Husain ²

Farid Pribadi ³

Sanaji Sanaji ¹

Inggrit Aulia Wati Hasanah ⁴

Faiz Bahalwan ¹

Ivan Piper ⁵

¹ Department of Marketing Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

² Department of Human Resource, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

³ Department of Sosiology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia

⁴ Department of Magister Sains Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.

⁵ Department Finance and Business, Faculty of International Economics, University of Donja Gorica, Podgorica, Montenegro

10.22059/ijms.2026.403764.678109

Abstract

This study examines how the four dimensions of absorptive capacity influence the sustainable performance of tourism villages in East Java Indonesia. The mediating role of visitor experience in changing the ability of village tourism managers to improve performance is also analyzed, particularly in terms of economic, social, and environmental aspects. This quantitative study employs a cross-sectional design. Data collection was conducted from July to September 2025, involving tourism village managers in five cities. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) version 3.3. The results show that acquisition does not affect visitor experience and the sustainable performance of tourism villages either directly, and through indirect mediation. Assimilation, transformation, and exploitation do not have a statistically significant direct effect on the sustainability performance of tourism villages. Rather the effects of these three variables are fully mediated by visitor experience. This study highlights the importance of systematically applying external knowledge to create an authentic visitor experience. The findings also provide a basis for policymakers to develop programs that have sustainable and measurable results in community-based tourism.

Keywords

Village Tourism

Absorptive Capacity

Visitor Experience

Sustainable Performance

East Java Indonesia Tourism

Subjects