Collaborative communication for sustainable tourism in Asia: a case study from Madura Island

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the collaborative communication between stakeholders in tourism development on Madura Island, Indonesia. It assesses the collaborative communication efforts of the tourism stakeholders and its barriers. With a focus on its crucial elements in the context of less developed island destinations, the study recommends strategies for facilitating sustainable collaboration in supporting government tourism policies and development.Design/methodology/approachUtilising the qualitative research design, the paper categorises the crucial components of collaborative communication in supporting tourism development in less-developed settings. This is done through saturated interviews with 26 informants from the local government, private sector and local community. The results of the interviews were then thematically analysed and reported.FindingsCollaborative communication is an important means of compiling tourism information. It can improve capabilities, create common goals, avoid conflict, facilitate optimum resource utilisation and be open to sharing developmental roles among the different spectrums of public, private and hybrid tourism stakeholders. However, the activity is impeded by strict government policies, lack of knowledge, skills, awareness, limited access, transparency and stakeholder relationships. By engaging in collaborative communication, stakeholders can develop a shared understanding that promotes tourism benefits and leads to a collective vision and mission and transparent information exchange. This, in turn, fosters a sustainable commitment, promotes inclusion and cultivates a sense of responsibility among all stakeholders involved.Practical implicationsThe insights are crucial for tourism stakeholders to develop premises for systematic coordination of sustainable development policies and support programs by identifying possible strategic solutions through collaborative communications.Originality/valueThe study presents contemporary destination management practices through a collaborative communication approach for tourism destinations, specifically those in the early stages of development.