KnE Social Sciences

Published date: Dec 03 2025

Journal Title: KnE Social Sciences

Issue title: The 5th International Conference on Tourism, Gastronomy, and Tourist Destination (TGDIC 2025)

Pages: 539 - 550

DOI: 10.18502/kss.v10i29.20295

Ersy Ervinaersyervina@telkomuniversity.ac.idCenter of Excellence Smart Tourism and Hospitality, Research Institute for Intelligent Business and Sustainable Economy Telkom University, Bandung

Riza TaufiqCenter of Excellence Smart Tourism and Hospitality, Research Institute for Intelligent Business and Sustainable Economy Telkom University, Bandung

Guntur Prabawa KusumaCenter of Excellence Smart City, Research Institute for Connectivity and Convergence for Smart Living Research Institute Telkom University, Bandung

Aufa Fiqri SuwariCenter of Excellence Smart Tourism and Hospitality, Research Institute for Intelligent Business and Sustainable Economy Telkom University, Bandung

Yendri SaputraCenter of Excellence Smart Tourism and Hospitality, Research Institute for Intelligent Business and Sustainable Economy Telkom University, Bandung

The Kasepuhan Cirebon Palace (KKC), founded in 1529, is a cultural and religious landmark of substantial historical importance. Despite its enduring legacy, the palace’s digital marketing initiatives remain underdeveloped. Grounded in digital destination marketing theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study develops and evaluates an integrated digital strategy comprising interactive websites and social media content to strengthen KKC’s marketing and revitalization. A mixed-method approach was employed within the Design Science Research paradigm, emphasizing both artifact creation and evaluation. The methodology encompassed two interrelated processes: (1) the development of user-centered website and social media artifacts, and (2) their systematic evaluation. Effectiveness was assessed through a User Acceptance Test (UAT) involving at least 96 tourists, focusing on usability, information quality, and service interaction quality, supported by a comparative analysis of visitation data before and after implementation. The UAT demonstrated high user satisfaction, with an average rating of 85/100, particularly highlighting the strength of information quality. Additionally, tourist arrivals increased by 40% within six months of implementation, directly linked to the launch of KKC’s digital marketing campaign. These findings confirm that structured digital marketing can substantially enhance the visibility and attractiveness of cultural heritage sites. The study contributes a replicable framework for other heritage destinations and suggests further exploration of immersive digital innovations, such as virtual tours.

Keywords: Heritage tourism, digital tourism, social media, website palace, Cirebon, digital content

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