Department of History Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Diponegoro-Semarang. Department of History recently held Series VI Methodology Workshop with the significant topic of Tourism History. The department deliberately initiated this workshop to present alternative topics for History undergraduate students who are currently formulating research topics or thesis.
Dr. Nurhayati, M. Hum., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Diponegoro welcomed and opened this event with the belief that Undip history students would give birth to brilliant ideas related to tourism history after learning from this workshop. “The output of this tourism history theme is considered useful for the success of the important agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), especially in the promotion of culture,” explained Dr. Nurhayati, M. Hum.
Dr. Awaludin Nugraha, M. Hum. from the History Study Program, Padjadjaran University, was invited as a speaker because his expertise is linear with the big theme of this workshop. Moderated by Dr. Haryono Rinardi, M. Hum., this workshop runs so dynamically by revealing various essential things, including those related to the basic meaning of tourism history, concepts, and theories. Those can be utilized as analytical tools or guidelines and opportunities for interesting themes to be followed up as a guide to intense research.
The study of tourism is inseparable from tourists’ free time. Free time is the time you have after completing primary needs. “Currently, there is a paradigm shift in tourism. Tourism is no longer targeting a booming number of tourists (mass tourists). However, targeting a small number of tourists, but having a long time (quality tourism).” Dr. Awaludin emphasized how interesting it was to study this tourism paradigm shift.
Participation of local tourists and the government in synergizing to realize quality tourism. The presence of tourists for a long duration of time is considered more financially profitable, and a tourist will spend money at tourist attractions for the duration of time during his stay there. Local people also understand that tourism is a secondary livelihood that is more widely earned. Thus, they secure tourism and tourists. This attitude of the local community is the result of a participatory approach. As a concrete example, in Yogyakarta, there is a tourist village Nganggeran where local people are actively involved in keeping the environment beautiful and comfortable for tourists.
In the context of historical research, it is fascinating to look at the irritation index, which is related to local people’s acceptance of tourism development. This acceptance is closely related to dynamic processes, for example, enthusiasm, feeling irritated, and refusing or resisting the presence of tourists. For instance, the tourism of Kampung Adat Naga and Baduy, which residents increasingly restrict, even gradually closed.
Another theme that seems insignificant yet interesting to raise is the rental of stretchers during the colonial period to enter tourist attractions or regarding the Indonesian Tourism Board. What’s really behind the council? This study seems to be still minor in the mainstream narrative of tourism history. In addition, the shift in the function of the hotel, which was originally a resting place, to a meeting place is no less attractive as a research theme.
“Hopefully, this workshop will produce interesting and relevant proposals. However, do not get caught up in the theme of tourism that leads to application because the two do have a wedge. Thus, caution is needed to see the difference between the two.” Said the Head Department of History, Dr. Dhanang Respati Puguh, M. Hum.