There is a strong motivation to promote tourism in ‘daerah’ such as Magelang. ‘Daerah’ is a common term for a region outside Jakarta or another business centre in Indonesia. They believe ‘daerah’ is unique and distinct from commonly known regions such as Jakarta. However, this kind of perspective can lead to a tourism trap.
People might argue that developing tourism in ‘daerah’ is an understandably logical decision. A common example people propose is Bali. They note that Bali has not industrialised the area, but tourism development there is massive; therefore, Bali can survive and provide livelihoods for its people.
Tourism Trap Happens From The Belief of Exoticism
Again, this belief that ‘daerah’ is distinct comes from the perspective of people who reside in Jakarta. They think Jakarta is normal, when in fact Jakarta itself may be the anomaly.
It means that they have this view of exoticism when they see ‘daerah’. They think the region is exceptional, when in fact it is normal and does not have strong competitive value to attract visitors.
In fact, even if the region is remarkably beautiful, we still have fewer reasons to make tourism our escape plan for unemployment.
Tourism Trap in ‘Daerah’
Our economic development framework prioritises industrialisation and services after agricultural development in one area. This is from our theoretical framework. Tourism has always been a supplementary industry to fill unemployment gaps.
Even a country that is visited by millions of people, like Thailand, would not prioritise how many visitors first. In fact, they have implemented different policies, such as developing the education system, simplifying the industrial permit process, and offering tax holidays. All to ensure the industry grows and helps people get jobs or other livelihoods, since they know that relying on the tourism industry would not be sustainable enough.
In Bali itself, tourism accounts for only 20% of Balinese livelihoods. It means that the remaining 80% of the Balinese economy should be built by developing other sectors, such as fisheries or different agricultural industries.
Why Then Are People Obsessed With How Many Visitors in ‘Daerah’
Recently, the development of Aston Borobudur Resort & Convention at the former Blabak Paper Factory site in Magelang Regency officially began on October 8, 2026, with a prayer ceremony and land clearing.
Representing the local government, Vice Regent Sahid welcomed the investment by PT Bina Migas, expressing hope that the international-standard hotel and convention facility would create jobs, support local MSMEs and the creative economy, and attract more domestic and international tourists.
This news reflected what actually happened. When the region or ‘daerah’ failed to develop manufacturing, tourism was easy. Transforming the area into a restaurant, café, or hotel gives it unique value. Yet, how sustainable is a hotel compared to manufacturing? Manufacturing meets demand; tourism meets people’s ‘wants’. This means manufacturing is more reliable at keeping people employed than tourism.
Politically, it is easier to say ‘we focus on tourism’ than to take responsibility and say the government should ensure strong investment and a reliable environmental impact assessment. Without proper industrialisation, people have to switch jobs every period, and household finances are never stable.
Moreover, building a strong industry in ‘daerah’ requires more complex steps and comes with hardships. It is easier to claim a place is an attraction, and then people around will have informal jobs like running a small food stall, being the ‘tukang parkir’ (someone who helps people park their cars or motorbikes), or selling souvenirs—hoping tourists pity them. Those are the easy ways; the hard way? Surely, it’s to build real economic activity through a strong manufacturing or service industry that can provide jobs for many.
