VOLUME #32 | SEPTEMBER 2023 BIT.LY/GLIDESMAG
T a b l e O f C o n t e n t s Editorin chief Jawad Yuwono Advisor Paramita Ayuningtyas, S.Hum., M.Hum. Editor Sofia Dewi Tantono Clarisa Rebecca Writers Clarissa Tirta Arief Audelia Indraatmaja Designer Adisty Fachrani Santoso Handiko Wijaya Streets and Stories: The Rise of City Walking Tours 01 by Jawad Yuwono The Ups and Downs of Tourism in Bali 05by Clarissa T. A. What Makes a Tourist Attraction? 10 by Clarissa T. A. & Jawad Yuwono
Editor’s Note To all wanderers and globetrotters, Welcome to the 32nd edition of GLIDES! This time around, we’re embarking on a journey to explore the tourism industry. While we often just think about tourism in terms of vacations and holidays, there is more to the industry than just the leisure aspect. How does it really work? What kinds of impact does it have on the people and places involved? In this issue, we’ll discuss the rising popularity of city walking tours, where streets become canvases for storytelling and urban exploration. We’ll also take you on a whirlwind to Bali, a destination that has seen both the highs and lows of tourism, offering insights into its impact on local communities. In our last stop, we’ll hit the trail to find out the recipe behind popular tourist attractions. So, pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. Hope you enjoy this trip and make the most out of it. Bon voyage! Jawad Yuwono Editor in Chief
By Jawad Yuwono Several weeks ago, a tongue-in-cheek question popped up on my X (formerly known as Twitter) timeline. It asks “fellow Jakartans” on what else they think the city offers as destinations—other than generic shopping and entertainment venues. Sure enough, some people jokingly replied with a catalog of popular malls, while some others answered seriously by listing out touristy areas such as the Thousand Islands. But the majority of the responses echoed the tweet’s sentiment, saying that they have to think out loud looking for ways to spend leisure time in such a massive metropolis. Many urbanites like to think that they are familiar with their hometowns, just because they spend a huge part of their lives there. But their lack of knowledge on what parts of the city are worth visiting says otherwise. Truth is, beyond the daily commutes and occasional hang outs, citydwellers often have limited perspectives of their own cities. Especially when most of their trips are done in private vehicles. Even if they pass through blocks of culturally and historically significant places, they would never know, for such places would be filtered through tinted car windows and helmet visors. Regardless, there are always those who are eager to explore and learn more on their own through urban tourism. One of the most prominent forms of such tourism is city walking tours, which has become increasingly popular in Indonesia within the last decade or so. This article documents the rise of walking tours in Indonesian cities, with a specific focus on Jakarta and Palembang. I will also discuss how these tours benefit the local community by acting as media for transmitting cultural and historical knowledge, and as tools for advocating heritage preservation, walkable cities, and sustainable tourism. 1
Going back to our tongue-in-cheek question, does Jakarta really offer anything besides malls and the like? Well, Jakarta Good Guide (JGG) thinks so. Founded in 2014 by Candha Adwitiyo and Farid Mardhiyanto, JGG is a group of licensed tour guides who love to share stories behind historic places in Jakarta. The group organizes regular tours with a sundry of routes traversing numerous districts. From the ever-popular Old Town, Chinatown, and City Center routes, to the more niche, weekend-only routes focusing on less-known historic streets across the city. TheGoodGuides A typical JGG tour limits its participants to 15 people per guide, and lasts for around two hours. The tours can be joined freely, but at the end of each trip, the participants are strongly encouraged to pay their guides based on how satisfied they are with the service. “The idea is to make it easy for people to join [our tours], ” said Farid, the cofounder. Hence the pay-as-you-wish system, with no minimum amount of money required. Candha, the other co-founder, adds that JGG will still commit to running a tour even with just a single participant. This arrangement proves to be popular among tourists and locals seeking a quick and affordable urban tourism option. Farid mentioned that at first, their customers were mostly foreign visitors with limited stay periods in the city. In 2016, as many as 80% of their tours’ participants were foreign tourists coming from nearby countries such as Singapore and Australia as well as faraway ones such as the Netherlands and the USA. As of 2023, the group has expanded its operation throughout the country by opening local Good Guide chapters in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Palembang, and Medan. Apparently, what were originally designed as mere time-filler activities have found their places in the hearts of the tours’ participants. Regarding Jakarta in particular, Farid remarked that many of their customers thank them for showing the “other faces” of the city, and how they talk positively on social media about their trips. He concluded by saying that JGG tours contribute positively to the local tourism scene. “Who knows, the participants may share our stories to other people, changing their opinions on Jakarta, [and leading to them] deciding to stay longer in the city.” But by 2018, more and more locals and domestic tourists started to participate in the tours. When the pandemic hit, JGG was forced to halt most of their activities, and pivoted to doing virtual tours using Google Street View as well as arrays of photos and videos. As the pandemic restrictions were gradually lifted, the regular onsite tours made a return, now with the vast majority of its participants (~95%) being locals. 2
Streets and Stories Indeed, walking tours benefit urban communities in various ways. The transmission of local cultural and historical narratives is one example. On the street level, we tend to notice a lot more things around us, from intricate architectural details to the differences in sociological and demographic environments. Guided walking tours contextualize the physical presence of places and people by adding one more element: storytelling. Without narration, people might not be able to grasp a site’s cultural and historical significance. “Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, or even in ASEAN, but not many people know about its rich heritage, ” said Robby Sunata, one of the co-founders of the Palembang-based cultural education organization Sahabat Cagar Budaya (SCB, lit. ‘Friends of Cultural Heritage’). The organization offers free walking tours as part of its monthly programs, along with casual discussions and sharing sessions about the city ’s heritage. Earlier in July, I joined one of their half-day events, where we went to explore Palembang’s old quarter in the Sekanak area, exploring the decades-old shophouses and abandoned warehouses, followed by a motorboat trip to a Peranakan Chinese mansion across the Musi River. “History is boring when you ’re just memorizing names and dates. It’d be much more fun if you ’re actually seeing historic places while listening to the stories behind them, ” said Robby. He emphasized that SCB’s foremost goal is to get people interested in the city ’s heritage sites through the power of narration. If we want people to care about heritage sites, then the first thing we need to do is to get people to know more about them first. The reason SCB employs walking tours as their main program is that they are recreational as much as they are educational. With the participants having fun vibing and taking selfies along the way, they will also be willing to learn more about them. For SCB, the importance of preserving historical narratives cannot be understated. A site cannot be deemed a cultural property by relying on its physical appearance alone. What makes a 1930s riverside warehouse in Palembang worth preserving is not just its otherwise unassuming colonial architectural form, but its story as a witness to the former industrial glory in the area. When this narrative is forgotten, the site will lose its historical value. And, when no one understands its value, it will be left to rot on its own. 3
Heritage,Walkability, and Sustainability Walking tours can be used not only to advocate for heritage preservation, but also to promote walkability and sustainable tourism. The more people walking around, the livelier a place would be. Walking also encourages people to spend more time and money, which in turn contributes to the growth of the local economy. Consider the Sekanak area in Palembang, which has emerged in the last couple of years as a vibrant destination in its own right. The once-neglected streets and small rivers in the area now boast refurbished sidewalks and shared paths, making the environment more inviting to walk. A couple of new cafes and restaurants are popping up along the main street, owing to the increased pedestrian traffic and tourism activity in the area. “It used to be just us, a handful of clueless people walking around [Sekanak], ” Robby recounted. “Sekanak is no longer considered a dangerous, criminal place as it was [...] now that we have more friends, more groups doing walking tours, bringing life to this historic part of Palembang.” A similar, but more extensive transformation happened in Jakarta’s own old town, through the pedestrianization of the Lada and Kemukus Streets in 2022. This new public place connects Jakarta Kota station to Fatahillah Square, enabling more people to enjoy the beauty of the old colonial buildings on foot. Across the city, improvements in sidewalks and signages also support walking as the main mode of urban exploration. More recently, the provincial government of Jakarta has also involved JGG and other groups in promoting city walking tours as a form of sustainable tourism. In a world burdened by mass tourism and its environmental consequences, it is important to highlight city walking tours as one of the more eco-friendly leisure options. Walking tours have a minimal carbon footprint, as they require nothing more than just a fit body. The small size of walking tour groups also minimizes environmental disruptions along the routes. Ultimately, the burgeoning popularity of city walking tours as examined in Jakarta and Palembang shows that there is a thirst for quality urban tourism among locals and visitors alike. For their participants, these tours are like a backstage pass to the cities’ cultural and historical roots. At the same time, the local communities also benefit from these tours. Hopefully, these tours encourage us urbanites to appreciate our cities a little bit better, by learning, cherishing, and sharing the incredible history and culture that make our urban landscapes. 4
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What Makes a Tourist Attraction? What Makes a Tourist Attraction? By Clarissa T.A. & Jawad Yuwono Every country has a list of places that draw visitors from all around the planet. They are the lifeblood of the global tourism industry, showing up every now and then in popular travel itineraries. From natural wonders and man-made marvels to arts and cultural heritage, these places pose charms that draw travelers in and keep them coming back for more. But is that all the ingredients you need to make a tourist attraction? In this article, we’ll delve into the question by examining examples from both Indonesia and abroad. Sit tight as we wander around the globe and discover the recipes behind these amazing places! No one can beat the power of nature in sculpting breathtaking sceneries and spectacular geographical features. Humans are naturally drawn to aweinspiring landscapes, whether for their beauty, sheer sizes, or strange appearances. Those who visit the Grand Canyon for the first time might have been surprised by the grandeur of the cliffs surrounding the meandering Colorado River. Likewise, the island of Socotra welcomes travelers with otherworldly limestone plateaus and alien-like dragon’s blood trees hardly found anywhere else. Undeniably, these physical forms of nature are magnets for travelers looking for Instagram-worthy picturesque locations. #1 Natural Wonders Some natural wonders in the form of geological, atmospherical, and biological phenomena can only be sighted at certain times and conditions. The northern lights, commonly found within the Arctic circle, are only visible from late August to mid-April on a clear, cloudless sky. Seasonal differences in the presence of species of plants and wildlife also present curious tourists with fascination. In Japan, cherry blossoms bloom in unison from March to April, covering the country with its iconic pinkish spring vibe. Similarly, in various wetlands across Indonesia, flocks of birds from between Eurasia and Australia make a stopover on their seasonal migrations. Surely, the rarity of these natural phenomena gives more value to travelers looking for a unique experience. 10
Most importantly, nature offers more than just eye-catching panoramas to satisfy our sights. It also acts as a sanctuary for those seeking peace from the hustle and bustle of life. When people are out in the wild, they shouldn’t have to worry about the constant buzz of traffic or the weight of a massive workload pressing on their shoulders. The relentless pace of modern life takes a backseat as they enjoy the calmness of dense jungle, pristine beach, and crisp mountain air. #2: Architectural Marvels The long-lasting history of human presence has made a timeless impact on our small planet. From ancient ruins to recent modernist buildings, structures displaying rich architectural heritage draw admiration from tourists around the world. They reflect human creativity in making use of available resources and technology as well as adapting to diverse needs throughout times and places. Historical monuments are particularly popular among tourists wanting to experience them in person. Sure, these days, you don’t have to travel all the way to China just to get a photo of yourself walking down the Great Wall, but for a lot of people, such a monumental structure can only be experienced fully by visiting it. With its massive length and numerous outposts guarding the passages, one can’t help but to imagine how the Great Wall could have looked in its full glory back then. Stories of the past are preserved not only in grandiose monuments, but also in the humble brick, stone, and mud structures of old quarters in various cities around the world. From Kota Tua in Jakarta, the town of Oia in Santorini, to Istanbul’s historic Fatih district, they all offer visitors a glimpse into local history. Strolling around their alleys, you ’ll notice the legacy of European colonization, imperial trade, and cultural exchange embedded into your surroundings. 11
That said, historic structures are not the only ones inspiring admiration from visitors. More recent styles of architecture also have their own fandoms. From the mid-century Sydney Opera House to the mere decade-yearold Burj Khalifa, contemporary structures display human ingenuity in their pursuit of architectural excellence, as well as their ability to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of design and construction. #3: Arts, Culture, & Entertainment Tourist attractions are not solely defined by natural beauty and architectural marvels; they are also enriched by the arts, culture, and entertainment that shaped the places. These elements add depth and meaning to a destination, providing travelers with opportunities to connect with local traditions and lifestyles. Many travelers seek out destinations that host vibrant cultural events. For instance, The Holi Festival in India is world-famous for its colorful celebration. After gathering for religious rituals symbolizing the cleansing and forgiveness of the past the night before, people flood the streets and drench each other with water and dye powders, resulting in a vibrant mish-mash of colors. Culture is also expressed in the form of gastronomy, or the art of preparing, serving and enjoying fine cuisines. For enthusiastic foodies, the chance to savor local authentic delicacies are more than enough reason for exploring a whole new destination. Whether it’s enjoying street food in Bangkok, tasting traditional sushi in Tokyo, or indulging in pasta in Rome, culinary experiences can be a highlight of any trip. 12
Lastly, cultural institutions such as museums and art galleries present treasure troves of human creativity and history. Cities like Paris boast renowned museums like the Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa, and the Musée d’Orsay, known for its vast collection of Impressionist masterpieces. Such cultural institutions offer intellectual stimulation and a deeper understanding of a destination’s artistic heritage. #4: Ease of Access For some, walking down off-the-beaten paths to find hidden gems sounds like the ultimate traveling experience. But for those who prefer smooth and hassle-free trips, easy access is a nobrainer when it comes to picking destinations. People tend to visit places within easy reach, whether in geographic or economic sense. Certainly, transportation plays the biggest role when it comes to access. Well-connected transportation networks, including airports, train stations, and highways, make it easier for travelers to reach their desired destinations. It’s no surprise that Singapore with its small area and limited attractions receives more international tourists than Indonesia pre-pandemic, considering its status as an air travel hub as well as its massive rail and bus networks. Accommodating economically and culturally diverse visitors is also important. For one, the availability of a wide range of accommodations, from budget hostels to luxury resorts, ensures that tourists of all budgets can find a place to stay. These places must also be welcoming and tourist-friendly. The presence of helpful information centers, guided tours, and multilingual support staff can enhance the visitor experience. 13
So, What Makes a Tourist Attractions? As we can see from the examples given, the appeal of tourist attractions rely on more than just a single factor. A blend of natural beauty, architectural wonders, cultural richness, complemented with accessibility goes a long way in popularizing a tourist destination. No matter where they are, people are drawn to places that offer a rich array of experiences, places that allow them to connect with the world’s diverse heritage and create lasting memories. While each traveler may prioritize different aspects, these ingredients work together in keeping curious wanderers coming for further adventures. 14