Gaze the Struggle of Others: The Representations of Rural Places and People of Indonesia in Tourism Media for Australian Tourists

Abstract

This study contributes to understand the representations of Indonesian rural destinations in tourism media (online and offline) and the social reproduction of the on-site experiences from Australian tourists. The study analyses qualitative data from media produced between 2016 and 2018, online reviews about rural destinations, and full-day participant observations involving Australians. The findings highlight the contested representation of tranquil rice fields and the Indonesians as the exotic locals to be gaze upon for Australians. In conclusion, the framing of Indonesia for Australians expresses the unjust reproductions of tourism media to exercise the existing power relations.