In the 1970s the aim of the new Indonesians government was to lead the diverse, multicultural state to a national unity. This was a difficult task for which good ideas were necessary. By promoting tourism the government devised the most successful solution to approximate the aim of unity. Now, the government overlooked the historical ethnic boundaries and cultural and religious differences of some ethnic groups in Indonesia. Therefore some problems arised which must be seen as a threat for the national unity. In this homework I try to show which positive and negative effects the governments efforts had by promoting provincial identities as tourist destinations. I will show mainly the negative results of the governments tourist campaigns with the example of Toraja in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The unity of Indonesia
2. Tourism policy in Indonesia
3. Tourism and nation-building in South Sulawesi
3.1. The religious and social relations of two different ethnic groups in South Sulawesi in a short history
3.2. How tourism came to Tana Toraja
3.3. The primadonas of South Sulawesi
3.4. The new reasons of envy by age-old ethnic groups because of promoting special touristic destinations
3.5 Positive and negative experiences with domestic tourism refering to interethnic relations and nation-building
Conclusions
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how the Indonesian government utilizes domestic and international tourism promotion as a strategic tool to foster national unity and a shared identity within a highly diverse, multicultural archipelago. The central research inquiry focuses on whether these state-led tourism campaigns successfully bridge cultural divides or if they inadvertently exacerbate age-old ethnic rivalries, specifically exploring the negative consequences observed in South Sulawesi with the example of the Toraja region.
- The intersection of state-driven tourism policy and national integration.
- The construction of "provincial identities" as a mechanism for national consciousness.
- Ethnic dynamics and historical rivalries between the Torajans and Buginese-Makassarese.
- The impact of official "tourist destination" labeling on inter-ethnic jealousy.
- Case studies on the reception of domestic tourists among distinct ethnic groups.
Excerpt from the Book
3. 3. The primadonas of South Sulawesi
After the declaration to the primadona of South Sulawesi Tana Toraja fully blossomed in the national and international touristic consciousness ( Adams, 1997). " As a borrowing from the gendered Italian expression, the precise shifts in meaning in translation can only be imagined. What is clear is that the director general of Tourism wished to convey a sense of Torajans as the premier belles of Sulawesi. (...) Some clearly had no idea what a primadona was, though they had divined that it was something positive. When Joop Ave returned to Jakarta, he repeated his declaration at a widely publicized event and the term rapidly became a part of tourism parlance in Indonesia" ( Adams, 1997: 160).
The status of Tana Toraja as primadona was indisputable, but the Torajas were concerned about losing their touristic preeminence: "In the eyes of Torajans, touristic preeminence was evoking the envy of their age-old rivals" ( Adams,1997: 163). A Torajan local tourism official:" The Buginese are jealous of all the development tourism has brought to Tana Toraja, but it`s to late for them to do anything - they just have to be content with being a " Gateway to Toraja", rather than a real destination" ( Adams, 1997: 163).
No wonder that differentiations between promoted and not-promoted tourist destinations lead to great envy and jealousy. The Torajans saw in every actions of the Buginese an attack to their new dominance. A Torajan lamented: " in the past the Buginese raided us for coffee and slaves, now they are after our tourists" ( Adams, 1997: 163)
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the context of Indonesia's post-1970s nation-building strategy through tourism promotion and outlines the negative implications for ethnic relations.
1. The unity of Indonesia: Analyzes the government's efforts to centralize power and create a cohesive national identity amidst extreme geographic and cultural fragmentation.
2. Tourism policy in Indonesia: Examines the development of tourism since 1969 as a primary state instrument to foster national pride and economic development.
3. Tourism and nation-building in South Sulawesi: Sets the regional focus on the complexities of implementing state tourism policy within a diverse, multi-ethnic province.
3.1. The religious and social relations of two different ethnic groups in South Sulawesi in a short history: Details the historical tensions and religious differences between the Torajans and the Buginese-Makassarese.
3.2. How tourism came to Tana Toraja: Documents the emergence of Tana Toraja as a major cultural tourist destination and the resulting shifts in local status.
3.3. The primadonas of South Sulawesi: Discusses the branding of tourist sites as "primadonas" and the subsequent inter-ethnic competition for prominence.
3.4. The new reasons of envy by age-old ethnic groups because of promoting special touristic destinations: Analyzes how official state favoritism fuels modern animosities and debates over tourism management.
3.5 Positive and negative experiences with domestic tourism refering to interethnic relations and nation-building: Investigates the real-world interactions between domestic visitors and local communities, highlighting both cross-cultural understanding and persistent prejudice.
Conclusions: Summarizes the findings that while tourism can build pride, it frequently acts as a catalyst for renewed ethnic tension in Indonesia.
Keywords
Tourism, Nation-building, Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Tana Toraja, Ethnic Identity, National Unity, Cultural Tourism, Inter-ethnic Rivalries, Domestic Tourism, Primadona, Social Integration, Buginese, Makassarese, Provincial Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research explores the intersection between Indonesian state tourism policy and the objective of national integration, focusing specifically on whether these policies help or hinder ethnic cohesion.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include national identity construction, the impact of tourism branding on regional ethnic relations, historical rivalries, and the socio-political consequences of promoting specific provinces as "tourist paradises."
What is the main goal or research question?
The author seeks to investigate if promoting provincial identities through tourism serves as a threat to national unity, particularly in regions with long-standing ethnic tensions like South Sulawesi.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The study utilizes a qualitative approach, primarily based on an analysis of existing literature, official government tourism discourse, and observational reports regarding tourist-host interactions.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the history of Indonesian tourism policy, case studies of the Torajan and Buginese-Makassarese ethnic groups, and an assessment of how domestic tourism creates both new alliances and new conflicts.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as nation-building, tourism, ethnic identity, South Sulawesi, Tana Toraja, national integration, and inter-ethnic rivalries.
How did the term "primadona" affect regional dynamics?
The labeling of Tana Toraja as the "primadona" of South Sulawesi created a sense of pride for the highlanders but triggered jealousy among neighboring groups, who felt marginalized by the state’s focus on one specific cultural narrative.
What role did tourism play in the conflict between Torajans and Buginese?
Tourism shifted historical conflict dynamics; while the Buginese historically dominated the Torajans through trade and raids, the modern tourism boom gave Torajans a new form of cultural celebrity, leading the Buginese to challenge their prominence in the tourism sector.
- Quote paper
- Marion Zimmermann (Author), 1998, Tourism and nation-building in South Sulawesi: Tourism promotion as threat for national unity?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/12977
