Friend or Foe? The complex relationship between indigenous people and policymakers regarding rural tourism in Indonesia

Rural tourism is considered an attraction within a destination that significantly stimulates economic growth, particularly for local communities. The aim of this study is to explore the interrelationship between indigenous people and policymakers in rural tourism development areas. This article emphasizes that the complexity of the relationship between indigenous people and policymakers often becomes a “rivalry” rather than a collaboration to work together as a team. The reliance and dependence of the indigenous people on local government also depend on how well the local government coordinates its governing bodies to work side-by-side with the indigenous community. The results indeed reveal that a complicated relationship exists between the indigenous people and policymakers; one of the reasons is due to the existence of local vendors.