Journal of Rural Tourism (JoRT)
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Januari - June

The dynamics of regional language attitudes as a cultural asset for sustainable tourism: A study of Balikpapan’s multilingual communities amid IKN development

Lisnawaty Simatupang (Department of Tourism, Balikpapan State Polytechnic, Balikpapan 76126, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Ranti Rustika (Department of Tourism, Balikpapan State Polytechnic, Balikpapan 76126, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Abdul Gafur (Department of Tourism, Balikpapan State Polytechnic, Balikpapan 76126, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Tri Retno Nugroho (Department of Tourism, Balikpapan State Polytechnic, Balikpapan 76126, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Febby Rio Pratama Syarif (Department of Tourism, Balikpapan State Polytechnic, Balikpapan 76126, East Kalimantan, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jan 2026

Abstract

Purpose - This study aims to examine the language attitudes of the Balikpapan community toward regional languages and to explore how these attitudes may influence regional identity and tourism development in the context of the new capital city (IKN) expansion. Methodology/Design/Approach - A quantitative approach was employed, collecting survey data from 384 respondents with a 5% margin of error. Multiple factors influencing language attitudes—environmental, instructional (Indonesian as the language of instruction), family, media, and institutional factors—were analyzed using significance testing to determine their predictive effects. Findings - The results show that environmental factors (Sig. = 0.000) and media/institutional factors (Sig. = 0.029) exert significant positive effects on regional language attitudes. Conversely, the use of Indonesian as a language of instruction (Sig. = 0.012) has a significant negative effect. Family influence (Sig. = 0.533), although theoretically assumed to be the strongest factor, shows no significant impact in shaping respondents’ attitudes. Overall, the Balikpapan community demonstrates attitudes toward regional languages that could be strengthened through targeted interventions such as education-based initiatives, regional language promotion, enhanced family engagement, and the creation of language-friendly public spaces. Originality/Value - This study contributes novel empirical evidence on the sociolinguistic dynamics of a rapidly developing urban area located near the emerging national capital. It highlights how regional language attitudes intersect with cultural identity and tourism development, offering practical insights for policymakers seeking to preserve linguistic heritage while promoting culturally grounded tourism in the era of IKN development.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jort

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Earth & Planetary Sciences Economics, Econometrics & Finance Social Sciences

Description

JoRT contains scientific papers from research/study results, reviews/conceptual, and policy analyzes related to the tourism sector with a particular emphasis on the Indonesian context and global perspective. 1. Tourism Destinations and Infrastructure including Marine and Coastal Tourism, Sustainable ...