COMPARISON OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA AND THAILAND

“Tourism in International Relations”
Lecture: Drs. Usmar Salam, MIS
Name: YULIANA SETYANA NINGSIH
NIM: 06/197785/SP/21853
Department: Ilmu Administrasi Negara

I. OVERVIEW
Tourism is unlimited sector. The reason is that multiplier effect of tourism sector is so various and profitable from economic aspect. Tourism activity is the activity which provides accommodation service, transportation, food, recreation, and other services related to this activity. Aspect which gets greatest concern in the tourism development is economic. That’s why, tourism is called to be an industry. Based on World Travel and Tourism Council/WTTC, in the global economic, tourism transaction reach US$ 3,5 billion in 1993 or 6% from the total global income and exceed petroleum industry, automobile, electronic, and agriculture industry1.
The impact of tourism sector for the economic of certain country, influence the tourism policy made by that country. Economic orientation becomes one of the important orientations in developing and formulating tourism policy made by a country. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that sustainable tourism development becomes the main issue in formulating tourism policy. This issue emerges; it is because tourism destructs the natural beauty of the tourism object. Furthermore, it will also destruct the
Nowadays, most countries believe that true sustainable tourism development must involve the people and local communities in which sustainable tourism attractions are being developed. This paper tries to compare the implementation of sustainable tourism development developed by Indonesia and Thailand.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW
The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism which leads to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be filled while maintaining cultural integrity, essentials ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems”. Sustainable tourism development concept asserts presence of the protection to environment and local culture, which is often neglected when development of tourism destination area is conducted. Development of tourism industry which neglect sustainable tourism development concept commonly destroy environment and local social-culture gradually. Because, tourism industry has some aspects which can give negative impact for natural environment and local social-culture.
Sustainable tourism has the following characteristics2;
Economic prosperity
• long term competitive and prosperous tourism businesses
• quality employment opportunities, fair pay and conditions for all employees
Social equity and cohesion
• tourism that improves the quality of life of local communities,
• community involvement in tourism planning and management,
• safe, satisfying and fulfilling visitor experiences
Environmental and cultural protection
• reduced pollution and degradation of the global and local environment
• tourism that maintains and strengthens biodiversity
• tourism that maintains and enriches our unique and diverse culture

III. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA
With a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, the second longest shoreline in the world, 300 different ethnic groups and 250 distinct languages, and tropical climate throughout the year, nature and culture are two major components of Indonesian tourism3. As known, Indonesia has historical, cultural and natural attractions. Small scale tourism development projects that are community-based, focus on an ethnic group at a remote location and involve NGOs are less well known. For the last several years, a community-based sustainable tourism project has been implemented in some tourism destination.
Besides, it also has been settled Undang-Undang RI Nomor 10 Tahun 2009 about Tourism. Policy product which support sustainable tourism development is Instruksi Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 16 Tahun 2005 about Kebijakan Pembangunan Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata, Rencana Strategis Departemen Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata 2005-2009. The product of that policy is about that tourism principally includes the important of sustainable tourism development. As we can see, on the section 4 this settled that one of the purposes of tourism is to conserve nature, environment and natural resources. Or in the section 5 which settles the principal about the tourism implementation related to economic, social, and ecologic aspects.
But, the fact is that tourism industry in Indonesia is still overwhelmed by excessive exploitation, like in the case of coral reef destruction in Raja Ampat regency. However, there are some local government who cooperate with private sector to conduct sustainable tourism development concept in there area. Like what has been done by Sumatera Barat government through green tourism packet developed by Sumatra and Beyond. Through “12 days Sumatra a journey of discovery” packet, tourist is invited not only to see the natural resources and the unique of art-culture of Sumatra Barat, but also is participated in the conservation of environment4.

IV. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THAILAND
There are plenty of tourism resources in Thailand. Some are natural tourist attractions while others are historical or cultural. Most of them are famous among both Thais and foreigners. Consequently, the number of tourists is increasing every year. This results in the deterioration of the environment due to a lack of preservation measures.
Like what we have known, Thailand is a country where its tourism sector becomes the major sector which support the economic of that country. In Thailand, tourism is managed by The Ministry Of Tourism and Sports. Moreover, tourism is handled by Office of Tourism Development, which have task and responsibility related with standard service development for tourist attraction and tourism object sites provided by Thailand tourism industry.
Besides, there are a tourism board in Thailand called Tourism Authority of Thailand5, which is often called TAT, which have some policy and program related with Thailand tourism sector. TAT also handles promotion strategic problem or marketing and Thailand tourism policy related to the presence of a tourism destination. The Tourism Authority of Thailand and other relevant departments have thus drawn up the "Sustainable Tourism” regulations in order to preserve tourist attractions in their original condition. Sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that provides economic, social, and environmental benefits through the knowledgeable management of tourism resources. Long-term sustainability is achieved without losing any local cultural identity or natural values. Both tourist operators and tourists can help achieve sustainable tourism.
Many program and policies related to sustainable tourism development model, which is developed by Thailand’s government and TAT. Some of them are TAT’s Seven Greens Programme, and Green Leaf Certification Programme.
TAT’s Seven Greens Programme provides a conceptual framework and establishes practical guidelines for carefully balancing tourism promotion and a healthy, sustainable environment. It facilitates the formation of strategic partnerships and provides a cooperative framework for the implementation of green initiatives in the following seven areas.
• Green Heart: to urge tourists to be socially responsible and environmentally aware as well as to be part of global efforts to help protect and preserve the environment at all tourist attractions
• Green Logistics: to encourage more environmentally-friendly tourism-related modes of transport to minimize direct and indirect environmental impact
• Green Destinations: to promote responsibly managed tourist sites that respect the environment
• Green Communities: to support community-based tourism in both urban and rural areas that place greater importance on responsible tourism management, and that also promote conservation of the environment, local traditions and ways of life
• Green Activities: to promote tourism activities that are well-suited to local communities. These provide visitors with engaging and culturally-enriching experiences without compromising the integrity of the environment. This includes taking carrying capacity into proper consideration.
• Green Service: to urge all tourism-related service providers to create positive first impressions for visitors, and to win hearts and minds by attaining higher quality assurance standards whilst demonstrating respect, care and concern for the environment
• Green[Plus]+: to encourage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among operators by encouraging them to give back to the communities in which they operate. For example, by refraining from undertaking any acts that might cause environmental damage. It also includes seeking their active participation in various activities and seeking their support for tourism business operators, manufacturers and organizations that promote energy-saving initiatives or develop renewable energy sources and environmentally-friendly products.
Green Leaf Certification Programme6 is one of TAT’s programme related to the certification programme for hotel and resort in Thailand for there commitment to the environment conservation, through the implementation of that hotel and resort. Such as the efficient use of energy and water, water management, recycling, proper waste management, and policies that favour the purchase of products and services from equally committed environmentally-friendly companies. Participating hotels and resorts were evaluated on initiatives and activities undertaken by individual properties in each of the following areas.
• Policy and Standards on Environmental Practice
• Waste management
• Efficient use of energy and water
• Environmentally-friendly products purchase - The preference for purchasing products and services from equally committed environmentally-friendly companies
• In-door Air quality
• Air pollution
• Noise Pollution
• Water Quality
• Recycling
• The storage and management of fuel, gas, and toxic waste
• Ecological impact
• Cooperation with Community and Local Organizations/Community relations
• Communication
• Management support
• Training
Tourism destination development in Thailand, which has sustainable tourism development concept, is admitted by other countries. Thailand receive award from 2009 Norwegian ‘Grand Travel Award’ for ‘World’s Best Tourist Country’ and ‘Best Intercontinental Airline’7. Another award is Go Asia Award 2009 for ‘Most Favoured Asian Destination8’. These awards are the evidence that tourism development in Thailand sustainable tourism development concept is able to make Thailand becomes the best tourism destination in the world.

V. THE COMPARISON CONCEPT AND IMPLEMENTATION SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA AND THAILAND
To compare the implementation of sustainable tourism development concept in Thailand and Indonesia, the important things that should be done is to understand whether those principal sustainable tourism developments which have been made go effectively or not. Both Indonesia and Thailand have had policy about sustainable tourism development. In Thailand, there are policy which is called The Seven Greens Concept, whether in Indonesia, there are UU Nomor 10 Tahun 2009 about Tourism.
Implementatively, sustainable tourism development policy which is conducted by Thailand is more success than Indonesia. This fact is in seen from recent notes published by The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 20099, where Indonesia is on the 81st, while Thailand is on the 39st. This award which has a theme “Managing in a Time of Turbulance”, focused on the quality of human natural resources in understanding tourist, hospitability, transportation facility, etc. It is proven, the implemetation of sustainable tourism development policy developed by Thailand is more effective than policy in Indonesia.
With label culture and tourism in a certain institution has a status as ministry that is Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it is difficult to imagine the development of potential segmentation tourism in Indonesia which is so various. Just mention, natural tourism, maritime tourism, national park tourism, etc. But, with the label cultural and tourism in Ministry of Culture and Tourism, then our tourism is covered by culture. Therefore, other tourism doesn’t develop as well as cultural tourism. In fact, the kind of Indonesian’s potential tourism is not only cultural tourism, but also natural and maritime tourism.
Tourism board possessed by Thailand is able to translate sustainable tourism development concept practically. And it makes the promotion and tourism strategy in Thailand go effectively. While in Indonesia doesn’t have tourism board, so the problem in promotion and strategy of the tourism development doesn’t go effectively.

VI. CONCLUSION
From the discussion above, we can conclude that the implementation of sustainable tourism development in Thailand and Indonesia are different. Thailand has tourism board which makes implementation go effectively. While Indonesia doesn’t have tourism board which make the implementation don’t go effectively.

Bibliography
Salam, Usmar. 2009. Sustainable Tourism Development. Slide Mata Kuliah Pariwisata dalam Hubungan Internasional. Jurusan Ilmu Hubungan Internasional FISIPOL UGM.
McKercher, Bob. 2003. Sustainable tourism Development – Guiding Principle For Planning And Management. Kyrgystan: Paper Presentation to The National Seminar on Sustainable Tourism Development.
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