ABSTRACT
Hailed as an important dimension of Indonesia’s economy, both domestic and international tourism have played complex roles in nation-building, inter-ethnic, and regional dynamics. Likewise, the government’s tourism awareness campaigns (such as “Wonderful Indonesia”) and UNESCO World Heritage site pursuits have had reverberations for Indonesians’ understandings of their place in the world, even for those residing in remote locales far from the touristic trail. Drawing from case studies in various regions of Indonesia (Bali, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara Timor, Sumatra, and elsewhere), this chapter addresses the interplay between tourism development, politics, and local sensibilities about cultural heritage, ethnicity, and the state.
