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Tourism discussion stresses rights protection in 'New Bali' developments
An industry discussion has highlighted the link between protecting the rights of Indonesians in developing local tourist destinations and protecting the rights of tourists.
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Visitors gather at an observation point overlooking Mount Bromo at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, in this file photo. The active volcano is among Indonesia's "10 New Bali" tourist destinations. (JP/Nedi Putra AW)
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ights violations related to information and land ownership are among the main problems hampering the "New Bali" tourist destination development program, a study by the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) has revealed.
The Human Rights in Indonesian Tourism Business report focuses on four of the 10 New Balis: Bromo Tengger in East Java, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra and Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung.
ELSAM researcher Blandina Lintang Setianti said that the majority of local people were not aware of the government’s detailed tourism development plans for their areas, as the related discussion and information sharing sessions only involved local officials, such as tourism agency officials and district heads.
“The right to information of many people were violated, as they are not even aware of the tourism master for their area,” Lintang told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a business and tourism discussion on Dec. 20.
She said that disputes over land ownership and acquisition were also prominent issues in the four areas, including the land dispute in Sigapitong village of Toba Samosir regency, near Lake Toba.
In September 2019, an indigenous community demonstrated against a highway project to connect local tourism destinations that was authorized by the Lake Toba Authority Agency (BPODT).
Several women from the community were involved in a highly publicized altercation with police officers during the protest, which demanded that the government discontinue the highway project until it recognized the community's ownership of customary lands.
