A Hegemony of Tourism

in Paradise Island

A short experience to feel the marine life

at Karimunjawa

Going to Karimunjawa is the desire of many people because this island has a fabulous natural charm. The islands are primping so it is challenging tourists to set their foot there. The high enthusiasm of tourists are seen since from port of Jepara. There is no question where they will go because the only answer is Karimunjawa.

The magnet of tourism at Karimunjawa has been strengthening in the past eight years. Formerly, the promotion is done orally. Now, tourists are pampered with various types of tour packages. They just click, send money and enjoy the trip.

Supporting Facilities

The access to go the island is quite easy, there are two options, using a fast motor boat  for two hours travel time or by ferry for five hours travel time. After setting foot on the island, tourists usually meet their tour guide who will guide them to an inn, but, sometimes one or two travelers prefers to be 'backpackers' tourists.

  

There are many homestays on both sides of the road, even most houses in Karimunjawa are converted into homestay, competing with investor-owned luxury hotel. Each hotel or homestay has its own segment based on tourists’ wallet. By staying at local people’s house, tourists will feel the genuine life of local people, and they will find real experience interacting with local wisdom and even face basic problem. Please never ask the facility differences between local house and homestay or hotel’s facility. Local houses convey the real life like being a beach boy who loves peace, bathing in open location near the springs, and enjoying the beach from toilet without door.

Another side

A profession as a tour guide becomes a key actor of Karimunjawa tourism. They work on mutual trust to maintain the prestige of partners, employers and Karimunjawa itself for the sake of tourism. Their work has not been specialized yet compared with tour guides in Yogyakarta or Bali. Tourist guide of Karimunjawa is required to work as friendly as steward, as strong as guard, and even like a servant. It can be seen in their mixed works such as providing food (grilling fish) for tourists, washing tableware and snorkling kits and giving first aid to injured tourists.

Karimunjawa tourism is supported by many stakeholders. Communities participate to run tourism, in collaboration with the government and investors (domestic and foreign). Slowly, economic condition is growing but it has not been evenly distributed yet.

  

Behind its existing sparkling tourism, covered by hegemony of laughter, jokes and romance of tourists, many things are found as homework for all stake holders, such as the availability of electrical energy for the local people, fresh water, education facility, sanitation and nightlife commercial sex that need to be solved. (SRB)