Tourism and nation-building in South Sulawesi: Tourism promotion as threat for national unity?

Exposé Écrit pour un Séminaire / Cours , 1998 , 13 Pages , Note: 2,5 (B)

Ethnologie / Anthropologie Culturelle

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
• The unity of Indonesia
• Tourism policy in Indonesia
• Tourism and nation-building in South Sulawesi
  • The religious and social relations of two different ethnic groups in South Sulawesi in a short history
  • How tourism came to Tana Toraja
  • The primadonas of South Sulawesi
  • The new reasons of envy by age-old ethnic groups because of promoting special touristic destinations
  • Positive and negative experiences with domestic tourism referring to interethnic relations and nation-building
• Conclusions
• Literature

Objectives and Key Themes

The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of tourism promotion on national unity in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the case of South Sulawesi. The paper seeks to understand how the government's efforts to promote tourism in diverse regions have led to both positive and negative effects on interethnic relations and the sense of national identity.

• The role of tourism in achieving national unity in Indonesia.
• The impact of tourism promotion on interethnic relations in South Sulawesi.
• The development of provincial identities as tourist destinations and their potential for fostering or hindering national unity.
• The positive and negative experiences of domestic tourism in relation to nation-building.
• The potential for envy and jealousy between ethnic groups with different cultures when specific provincial sites are promoted as tourist destinations.

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of tourism as a tool for nation-building in Indonesia. It highlights the challenge of uniting a diverse and geographically fragmented nation and introduces the specific focus on South Sulawesi.
• The unity of Indonesia: This chapter examines the historical context of nation-building in Indonesia under the "New Order" regime. It discusses the government's strategies to promote national integration through language, education, economic development, and religion.
• Tourism policy in Indonesia: This chapter explores the development of tourism policy in Indonesia, from its initial focus on economic benefits and international recognition to its later role in promoting national unity. It discusses the government's strategies for promoting domestic and foreign tourism and highlights the potential for both unity and conflict.
• Tourism and nation-building in South Sulawesi: This chapter delves into the specific case of South Sulawesi, examining the impact of tourism promotion on interethnic relations in the region. It discusses the historical and cultural background of different ethnic groups in South Sulawesi and explores how tourism has influenced their interactions.

Keywords

This paper examines the complex relationship between tourism, nation-building, and interethnic relations in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the case of South Sulawesi. Key themes include national unity, tourism promotion, cultural diversity, provincial identity, ethnic rivalry, and the potential for both positive and negative effects of tourism on national integration.

• Université: University of Heidelberg (Ethnology South Asiean Institute)
• Cours: Tourism and Nation-building in the South Pacific
• Note: 2,5 (B)
• Auteur: Marion Zimmermann (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 1998
• Pages: 13
• N° de catalogue: V12977
• ISBN (ebook): 9783638187442
• ISBN (Livre): 9783638771283
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Tourism, South, Sulawesi, Tourism, Nation-building, South, Pacific