International Journal of Social Science And Human Research ISSN(print): 2644-0679, ISSN(online): 2644-0695 Volume 05 Issue 08 August 2022 DOI: 10.47191/ijsshr/v5-i8-44, Impact factor- 5.871 Page No: 3667-3669 IJSSHR, Volume 05 Issue 08 August 2022 www.ijsshr.in Page 3667 The Role of Local Government in Tourism Development to Improve Community Welfare at Muna Barat Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia Muhammad Irfan 1 , Nasrudin Suyuti 2 , Akhmad Marhadi 3 , La Aso 4 1 Study Program of Cultural Studies, Postgraduate Halu Oleo University Kendari, Indonesia 2,3 Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Indonesia 4 Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Halu Oleo University, Kendari, Indonesia ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to describe the role of the government in tourism development at Muna Barat Regency, and the impact of tourism development on improving people's welfare at Muna Barat Regency. This research uses a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. Qualitative descriptive research is one type of qualitative research because the social and cultural environment at Muna Barat Regency, through the local government emphasizes that the existence of tourist objects can be used as a means for the local community to recognize the variety of cultures brought by domestic and foreign tourists. The results of this research showed that: (1) The government's role in tourism development at Muna Barat Regency is to organize and develop tourism objects to improve community welfare, empower tourism businesses and manage tourism data and promotion, and (2) The impact of tourism development on improving welfare at Muna Barat Regency through tourism development are: lack human resources, lack budget funds from the APBD and DD (Dana Desa/Village Funds) to design the tourism destination development program, and the lack of community support, as well as lack of public awareness of tourism objects. KEYWORDS: Role, Government, tourism, welfare, society INTRODUCTION Tourism is a travel activity carried out by a person or group of people by visiting certain places for recreational purposes, personal development, or studying the uniqueness of tourist attractions visited for a temporary period (Tourism Law No. 10 of 2009). Tourism is carried out by someone by taking advantage of free time and traveling to a tourist place because they feel bored with activities on weekdays and productivity is increasing. The role of the Village Government is very necessary to direct the community in managing existing resources seeing the potential that exists at Jayamukti Village in improving community welfare, one of which can be supported through tourism villages that are managed locally by the region through the local community. Community resources in paying attention to the environment in which the potential role of the village government is very much needed in supervising and increasing community power for the better. According to Sulistiyani (2004, p.7) etymologically empowerment comes from the word "daya" which means strength or ability". Starting from this understanding, empowerment is interpreted as a process to obtain power, strength, or ability, and or the provision of power, strength, or ability from parties who have power to parties who are less or not empowered. Based on the results of preliminary observations, it shows that the list of the number of tourist visitors for 11 tourist destinations registered with the Muna Barat Regency Tourism Office for the 2017-2019 level is divided into two types of tourists, namely domestic tourists and foreign tourists. The picture above shows that the highest number of visitors is at the Pajala Beach tourist destination which is located at Maginti District with ± 50,000 domestic tourists and ± 10 foreign tourists. Furthermore, in the second position, there are Indo Island tourist destinations located in the Tiworo Islands District with a total of ± 40,000 domestic tourists and ± 8 foreign tourists. Next is the Wakantee Natural Baths tourist destination in Lawa District with ± 10,000 visitors from domestic tourists and ± 6 foreign tourists. The last is the Waukuni Tracking Mangrove tourist destination which is located in Sawerigadi District with a total of ± 500 domestic tourists. Based on the background described above, the researchers identified various tourism development problems both in terms of infrastructure aspects at the tourist attraction level, therefore, researchers are very interested in conducting research with the title: The Role of Local Governments in Tourism Development for Community Welfare at Muna Barat Regency.