A Policy Review of the Tourism Ecosystem Paradigm in Indonesia's Law No. 18/2025

Bintari Pangesti Putri; Mega Fitriani Adiwarna Prawira; Rumba

doi:10.35313/jtospolban.v6i1.202

Authors

Bintari Pangesti Putri Tourism Destination Program, Politeknik Negeri Bandung
Mega Fitriani Adiwarna Prawira Tourism Department, Politeknik Pariwisata NHI Bandung
Rumba Tour and Travel Business Program, Politeknik Pariwisata Lombok

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35313/jtospolban.v6i1.202

Keywords:

Tourism Law No. 18/2025, Tourism Ecosystem, Networked Governance, Destination Stewardship, Regulatory Grand Bargain

Abstract

Indonesia's Law No. 18/2025 marks a decisive shift from a quantity-driven framework to a quality-focused "Tourism Ecosystem." However, the governance consequences of this deregulation remain under-theorized. Employing a critical socio-legal approach and systems theory, this article contrasts the 2025 reform with Law No. 10 of 2009. The study identifies a "Regulatory Grand Bargain" producing a "Tight-Loose Governance Paradox." Specifically, the state trades structural decentralisation—achieved by abolishing the single-bar industry association—for functional intensification through mandatory Competency Certification and strict carrying-capacity limits. While this architecture advances sustainable tourism, it exposes vulnerabilities: an "orchestration deficit" in intersectoral coordination and the risk of social exclusion for community-based actors. To mitigate these unintended outcomes, the study recommends establishing a digital orchestration platform to enhance policy coherence and implementing affirmative certification subsidies to ensure equitable participation across the new tourism ecosystem.

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