One of the main contributors to Indonesia's foreign exchange earnings is the tourism sector. Empirically, most world-class tourist destinations in Indonesia are based on marine tourism. Unfortunately, its management is not yet optimal. In the government's global maritime axis vision, marine tourism is a priority. However, behind the rapid progress of marine tourism, there are issues that disrupt the lives of local communities, especially those living on coastal areas and small islands. They are often neglected and become victims. One case that attracted public attention was the seizure of Pari Island in 2017 by a corporation, which evicted local residents. They claimed they had certificates and business permits for tourism development. In fact, the local community had inhabited the island before Indonesia's independence. This situation suggests the appropriation of marine resources and space ( ocean grabbing ) for marine tourism businesses. The government should address such crucial issues.
Superiority
Indonesia is boosting tourism because it contributes significantly to national economic development. In 2019, its contribution to the national GDP was 15 percent and earned foreign exchange of IDR 275 trillion. Marine tourism only contributed US$1 billion to the tourism sector's foreign exchange. This is smaller than Malaysia's, which earned up to 40 percent of its foreign exchange, amounting to US$8 billion. In fact, Indonesia has 33 marine tourism destinations compared to Malaysia's 11. Indonesia also has unique advantages. This is because our country has coastal and marine areas ideal for marine tourism activities. These include: sunbathing, swimming, diving, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, boating, yachting, parasailing, cruising, marine parks, and whale watching. World-renowned marine tourism destinations include the island of Bali, Bunaken Marine Park, Wakatobi, Raja Ampat, Riung Tujuh, Labuhan Bajo, Komodo Island, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). All of these have become icons of Indonesia internationally, attracting tourists every year. BPS data recorded that the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2018 was 15.81 million, a 12.63 percent increase compared to 2017, which was 14.04 million.
As the center of the world's Coral Triangle , Indonesia boasts exceptionally high biodiversity. These include 590 coral species, 2,057 reef fish, 12 seagrass species, 34 mangrove species, 1,512 crustacean species, 6 turtle species, 850 sponge species, and 24 marine mammal species. Indonesia's tropical geography, with its warm climate and year-round sunshine, further enhances marine tourism, particularly for scientific diving, conservation, education, and underwater photography. These advantages must be harnessed to increase foreign exchange earnings and create new jobs. However, this empowerment must consider the sustainability of resources and ecosystems, as well as the economic well-being of local communities. Local communities must not be victims of the marine tourism industry, nor should the sustainability of their resources, ecology, and ecosystems be compromised. The rampant appropriation of marine and coastal resources and space through the marine tourism industry remains a structural and cultural problem. Therefore, a new approach to marine tourism development based on local wisdom and culture is imperative.
Alternative
The structural and cultural problems behind the rapid development of marine tourism include, first , the rampant appropriation of marine, coastal, and small island space, neglecting local communities. Second , the exclusive control of small islands in Indonesia by foreigners under the guise of investment, labeled island adoption. This initially involved a government policy offering 31 small islands to foreign parties. As a result, 19 small islands have been managed by foreigners, restricting access for local communities (KIARA, 2015). For example, Malaysian investors manage Maratua Island in East Kalimantan, Dua Island, and part of Enggano Island in North Bengkulu (Kompas, November 21, 2016).
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Third , tourists' indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste threatens the lives of marine mammals, such as whales, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, and coral reef ecosystems. Fourth , the minimal involvement of local communities as players in the marine tourism industry, rather than corporations. Consequently, capital accumulation dominates over the sustainability of resources, ecosystems, and local wisdom.
This is where an alternative approach that doesn't hinder the marine tourism industry and isn't anti-foreign is crucial. Economic and ecological justice are needed to reduce corporate hegemony in managing marine tourism. One approach is degrowth in sustainable marine tourism governance . This approach is a collective-deliberative process that controls market mechanisms and ensures a fair exchange of goods and services for human well-being (Schneider et al., 2013). This model also prioritizes ensuring the quality of human life over quantity, cooperation over competition, thus realizing social justice (Latouche, 2003).
From an ecological-economic perspective, this model will ensure social sustainability and prevent injustice (Kallis, 2010). It also ensures ecological sustainability, participatory economic management, the fulfillment of basic needs, and a better quality of human life, thereby creating distributive justice, both in terms of space and resources (Research and Degrowth, 2010). The concept of degrowth in marine tourism can be illustrated in the biological life of animals and plants, which still ensures natural ecosystem/ecological sustainability. Marine tourism management policies should not necessarily pursue high business growth. Rather, they should focus on ecologically oriented marine tourism management that ensures the natural metabolic processes within the web of life in coastal and marine areas. This is similar to the metabolic process in the human body. If humans consume excessive amounts of food without considering the impact on their health, their metabolic processes will be disrupted, resulting in various chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity.
The human body cannot force an uncontrolled supply of food into its system. It must consider its ecology so that metabolic processes continue normally. If, assuming excessive food intake into the human body is oriented toward "growth," the result is chronic illness and even death. This is tantamount to humans pursuing high tourism economic growth while ignoring their natural metabolism, resulting in the destruction of coastal and marine natural resources (anthropocentrism) (Karim, 2013). The question arises: how does marine tourism contribute to national and regional economic growth? Will it slow growth or be absent altogether? The contribution to growth will be generated at the end of this approach model. If ongoing activities have achieved income equality, economic justice, and ecological justice, then it will contribute to equitable regional and national economic growth.
Conceptually, this thinking is modified from Andriotic (2009), who positions the "local community" as the primary actor. The goal is to maximize welfare, not merely capital accumulation. The governance model is, first , oriented and emphasizes labor- intensive activities over capital- intensive ones . This orientation absorbs jobs and reduces unemployment. Residents living in marine tourism destinations no longer need to become migrant workers abroad. The local government's task is to strengthen its capacity and human resources and provide incentives that facilitate the development of this community-based tourism. These include taxes, legal certainty, and reducing transaction costs that have the potential to create moral hazard.
Second , ownership of access, assets, and control of resources prioritizes local community involvement (endogenous) over corporations (exogenous), which often block their access. This means that collective-deliberative principles and participatory management prioritize local communities. This will encourage innovation and creativity within local communities based on digital technology. This will lead to the emergence of technology-based social entrepreneurs that support marine tourism activities. Consequently, this will create a quality of life, a just distribution of space and resources, and social well-being.
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Third , due to its labor-intensive nature, tourism development efforts are typically small and medium-sized enterprises, including cooperatives and village-owned enterprises. The state plays a role in providing capital schemes and affirmative policies (tax incentives, permits, and professional human resource training) to increase local capacity in governance. What about infrastructure? The government does not need to build large-scale, capital-intensive infrastructure. It would be better to revitalize bio-infrastructure in coastal and marine areas that have experienced degradation, such as rehabilitating mangrove forests and coral reefs. Tourist accommodation facilities should be more ethnically oriented and use local materials, such as cottages and guesthouses for tourists. This is cost-effective because it utilizes local natural resources such as old coconut trunks. In addition, home industries should be developed to produce souvenirs, local culinary delights, and snacks for visiting foreign tourists.
Fourth , the development is not mass-scale. Instead, it is adaptive and aligned with local resources, culture, and wisdom, preventing destructive behavior toward the environment and communities, and thus reducing its economic value. This development facilitates control and monitoring, particularly regarding the behavior of tourists who carelessly dispose of plastic waste, which damages coral reef ecosystems, mangroves, and aquatic life if it enters the sea.
Fifth, develop marine tourism that reflects a unique way of life characterized by a sense of family, brotherhood, and collectivism, thus fostering social interaction between local/indigenous communities and tourists. Ecologically conscious tourists automatically enjoy natural life and immerse themselves in local ways, cuisine, and culture without altering the landscape or damaging its ecosystem.
Sixth , the model is a deliberative democracy that prioritizes local community participation and culture in management decision-making. This is precisely what is applied by traditional coastal villages in Bali. Can this model be applied in contexts that are neither traditional nor cultural? It is certainly possible, provided that central and regional government political economic policies position marine tourism beyond mere corporatism and instead provide space for local and indigenous community participation in its management.
This approach is essentially the antithesis of the capitalist-exploitative model that marginalizes local and indigenous communities. This model is highly suitable for development in pristine areas, including those within marine conservation areas. We hope that implementing this model will eliminate the eviction and appropriation of marine space and its resources ( ocean grabbing ). For example, the seizure of ownership rights to tourist islands by corporations, especially foreign ones. This approach will impact the national and regional economies based on islands, reduce unemployment, and minimize the degradation of natural resources and ecology. Hopefully!
By: Muhamad Karim
Director of the Center for Marine Development and Maritime Civilization Studies/ Lecturer at Trilogi University
