MIMBAR, Vol. 36 No. 2nd (2020) pp. 342-350 'Jong' Boat Competition in Preserving Malay Culture as a Tourist Attraction ODA I. B. HARIYANTO Universitas Internasional Batam, Jl. Gajah Mada, Baloi Sei Ladi, Batam, Indonesia Correspondence author: [email protected] Abstract. The uniqueness and tourism attraction in a destination motivates tourists to travel and visit the place and they even participate in the attraction. The ‘Jong’ boat race that is held every year in Sembulang Village, Batam City, in the context of welcoming 17th August, is a culture of fishermen who live on the coast. The ‘Jong Boat Race’ is a typical heredity folk game of Malay culture that can be a tourist attraction. The uniqueness of ‘Jong' Boat Race is it sails without a boat crew, where the speed of boat is controlled by winds. This study uses a descriptive method with a multidisciplinary approach for the reason that tourism research is a social and cultural problem that requires a view and analysis from the various scientific perspectives. The study results expect that ‘Jong’ boat race can attract foreigners and tourists alike to visit Sembalung Village and watch the race. During this time, the ‘Jong’ boat race is a game and community’s entertainment, thus, most visitors are local tourists and only a few domestic and foreign tourists. Keywords: Tourism Attraction, Malay Culture, and the Boat ‘Jong’. Introduction Tourism objects can produce non-oil and gas foreign exchange which is now being Tourism is one of the leading sectors developed in the various regions in Indonesia and it is expected to be able to replace the (Rahmafitria et al., 2019). Development mineral resource (HR) sector, such as oil and of tourism objects begins by prioritizing gas, gold, coal and its sources of shipping natural beauty, art, and culture (Snyman & (Wildan & Suakardi, 2020). Natural resources Bricker, 2019) which are recognized by the sector of classes A, B, and C will be exhausted government as the largest foreign exchange at a certain time; after being explored earner from non-oil and gas sector (Plaituka, and leaving the impact of pollution on the 2018). The government is seriously pushing environment (Maingi, 2019). Environmental the development of tourist destinations to damage impacts the forest ecosystem where be a top priority; it is hoped that tourism will trees are cut down and turn into holes which become the most potential source of large are dangerous and prone to landslides (Aco, foreign exchange earnings without causing 2017, Erman, 2010). A tourist destination that the risk of widening current account deficit is managed and properly maintained, such as (CAD) (Olivia, 2019). natural tourist destination, is the right place that will never run out for tourists to explore The development of tourism is currently and enjoy (Aini et al., 2019). able to reach remote areas as basically the source of natural and cultural attractions, as The rotation of tourism sector in a single well as the place where traditional games move is able to cause the economic multiplier or the attractions are played by local people effects that have a beneficial impact on all (Noviana & Santoso, 2014). Traditional games sectors of human life, especially the economic which contain wisdom and local genius of sector from foreign and local exchange, local village community’s life are potential sources revenue (PAD), to improve people’s welfare that can be packaged as and interesting for fairly and equally (Carius & Job, 2019). tourist attractions. The meaning and story Received: 2020-04-20, Revised: 2020-09-25, Accepted: 2020-12-22 Print ISSN: 0215-8175; Online ISSN: 2303-2499. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29313/mimbar.v36i2.5953 Accredited Sinta 2 based on the decree No.10/E/KPT/2019 until 2024. Indexed by DOAJ, Sinta, Garuda, Crossreff, Dimensions 342 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29313/mimbar.v36i2.5953 ODA I. B. HARIYANTO. Jong Boat Competition in Preserving Malay Culture as a Tourist Attraction behind traditional games can be packaged from big city interested in are ‘back to nature’ into interesting information. Tourists can tourism where people can enjoy a beautiful take part in carrying out these traditional natural environment away from the hustle and play activities so that it becomes a tourist bustle of the city, such as the ‘tourist village’. attraction of a tourist village (Suherman et The community is expected to participate al., 2019). Such activity can be the wheels in the development of the tourist village of village reconciliation independently. This so that there is no gap between the local study aims to describe the expression and community and tourists. This can be done meaning of traditional game 'Jong' Boat by involving the community in developing competition as manifestation of traditional tourist villages through the concept of CBT culture and preserve Malay tradition and and sustainable development (Deeg et culture with the aim at keeping sustainable al., 2020). The concept of CBT is carried tourism (Sembiring et al., 2019). The out entirely by the community; the ideas impact of interesting activities in tourist of activities and management are carried destinations will increase tourist visits, as out also by the community. Meanwhile, well as significantly benefit the multi-effect sustainable tourism development takes into economy (Nasir, 2019). account the environmental aspects, social, and cultural sustainability aims to welfare the Indonesia has a very beautiful and community (Ahsani, dkk. 2018). According to amazing natural wealth potential for world UNEP and WTO in 2005, sustainable tourism tourists; it is supported by a variety of cultures, development is a process to fulfill the needs of languages, and religions that provide a lot of the present without compromising the ability inspiration supporting the implementation of of future generations to meet their own needs. tourism activities (Darmawan, 2016). The facilities and infrastructure needed by tourists A village is social life in a community are known as three (3A), namely Accessibility, structure which is integrated with the Attractions and Amenities. The facilities and procedures and traditions that apply from infrastructures are adapted to local conditions generation to generation in a region or district and it is needed by tourists to complete (Alisa & Ridho, 2020). The characteristic of a the 4A (Attraction, Amenity, Accessibility, village life which blends with nature is rather Ancillary). The fourth A is Ancillary, additional quiet since there is less population compared services that provide marketing and physical to the city (Ratnawati & Sulistyani, 2019). A development (Setiawan, 2015). village has a beauty panoramic of mountains, rice fields, rivers and waterfalls with the sound Law of Republic of Indonesia states of water gurgling (Bachi et al., 2020). The about tourism as “Various facilities and sound of the crowing chicken and the chirping services provided by the community, of birds can be heard in the morning, while in business people, government, and regional the afternoon there are sound of insects that governments (States et al., 2009). Therefore, live in trees, interlocking each other in the late all activities and businesses in the framework afternoon. At night, the sounds of crickets and of providing tourism facilities can be done by frogs stick together to welcome the nightlife. anyone, let it be from the government, central government, private sector, stakeholders to The countryside which has ocean and community, as long as they follow the laws beach with clean sand will look beautiful and regulations set by the government of before morning. Panorama of reddish sky Republic Indonesia. silhouette indicates the sun will rise in the east, while before evening, people can enjoy Besides giving contribution to the sunset; these two natural phenomena are income of foreign exchange sources and an attraction for tourists (Supriadi, 2020). local revenue (PAD), tourism is very potential The beauty and panoramic views of nature to empower people’s economy and it has a and the close and harmonious community direct impact to society (Thamus, 2020). life with different customs will become the Businesses in tourism sector directly related characteristics and uniqueness of a village. to the community are adventure tourism, cultural tourism, ecotourism and the tourism- According to the Law of Republic related to the environment. Tourism activity Indonesia No. 6 of 2014 concerning villages, that directly involved with the community village is defined as a legal community unit is called community based on tourism which has territorial boundaries authorized to (CBT) (Firmansyah & Nasih, 2019). Tourism manage the government affairs. The interests activities currently trending and many people of local communities based on community Accredited by Sinta Rank 2 based on Ristekdikti No.10/E/KPT/2019 343 MIMBAR, Vol. 36 No. 2nd (2020) pp. 342-350 initiatives, original rights, and or traditional and adequate roads and transportation to rights that are recognized and respected in the destination. The second A is Attraction, which system government of the Unitary Republic is spectacle or entertainment of nature, or of Indonesia. artificial that can entertain and enjoy by tourists (Karimimoshaver et al., 2020). The The concept of rural tourism has been ‘Jong’ boat race is a traditional game of one of the topics since 1991. Tourism is Malay community, a tourist attraction that based on the community and it is built with attracts and motivates tourists to watch it. an emphasis on community participation in The boat race involves tourists and local planning, development, management, and people in the race, either as a committee, ownership. The sustainable and integrated contest participants, and spectators. The development between the community and third A is Amenities, which is facilities and the potential of village is carried out to accommodation, food and beverage needed preserve the environment, as well as a by tourists during their stay at the destination.