Rural tourism could develop local communities in Indonesia

The Strategic Foresight Group writes,

"In 2008, the government launched a pilot project to transform villages into tourist destinations. Rural tourism includes village tours and outdoor activities such as farming, local games, traditional music and dance. Initially, the government developed tourism in 50 villages across Indonesia. By the end of 2010, there will be around 200 villages developed as tourist destinations. Indonesia has the potential to expand such initiatives because villages have diversity of cultures, traditions and handicrafts to attract tourists."

Implications

The Strategic Foresight Group writes,

"If the government continues to develop more villages into tourist destinations, the implications for rural Indonesia in the next few years will be as follows:

1. It will improve people’s quality of life by providing employment and income earning opportunities. For example, a rural tourist guide earns up to Rp 30,000 (USD 4) in a single three-hour tour. The initiative also has the potential to improve the living conditions of local communities. For instance, local scavengers were integrated into the tourism sector in Borobudur in Central Java and it enhanced their living conditions, while providing them an opportunity to earn.

2. In addition, tourism will develop rural infrastructure in Indonesia. The tourism villages in Borobudur attracted 2.5 million local tourists and 200,000 foreign tourists in 2009-10. The area earned around USD 22,000-44,000. The revenue earned was then spent on projects such as constructing toilets, houses and roads. In Indonesia, around 45% of the villages are underdeveloped. Therefore, the expansion of rural tourism will result in the development of villages in the coming years.

3. However, since the rural areas of the country lack proper waste management, an overwhelming influx of visitors may cause environmental pollution from unhygienic disposal of waste in the future. "