Cultural Justice and Tourism: Addressing the Commodification of Indigenous Culture in Indonesia

Ubaidillah Ahmad Mustafa (Universitas Parahyangan)
Yohanes Lio Tukan (Universitas Kristen Maranatha)
Leonardus Rian Kusuma (University of New South Wales)

Indonesian Tourism Justice Review
Vol. 1 No. 3 (2024): September, 2024

As tourism in Indonesia expands, indigenous cultures have increasingly become objects of commodification, raising questions about cultural justice and the rights of indigenous peoples. This paper examines the tension between cultural preservation and the economic imperatives of tourism, focusing on indigenous communities in regions such as Bali, Papua, and Flores. The study argues that the commodification of indigenous culture for tourism often leads to the distortion of cultural practices and the exploitation of indigenous identity for economic gain. Drawing on anthropological theories of cultural justice, the paper explores how tourism policies and practices contribute to the erasure or misrepresentation of indigenous cultures, while simultaneously exacerbating economic inequalities. The research also examines local resistance movements and the role of indigenous advocacy groups in reclaiming cultural rights and ensuring that tourism benefits local communities in a culturally respectful manner. The paper concludes with recommendations for tourism policies that prioritize cultural sustainability, the protection of indigenous knowledge, and fair economic participation.