How Indonesia’s homestays give authentic local experiences for tourists, but face concerns from authorities and competition from hotels
- Indonesian homestays provide struggling families with an alternative revenue source while offering tourists a more authentic experience
- But government concerns over accommodation standards have slowed development as authorities seek to better regulate the industry
Harry Gobel’s first homestay in his native Gorontalo, a province in eastern Indonesia, was so popular that the local government repeatedly got him to lead training sessions on running this class of low-budget guest accommodation.
But then suddenly things changed and a year ago officials told him to shut down his homestay operation.
Gobel and his wife Mimin had been hosting foreign tourists in their home for more than a decade when the government ordered them to close their doors. Locals had begun complaining about loud foreigners, while taxi drivers diverted tourists to hotels, claiming the homestay was already closed, or illegal. Gobel suspects this misinformation was a result of hotels pressuring drivers, possibly with the promise of a commission.
Homestays can be an attractive business for homeowners seeking an alternative source of income, but at the local level – as the Gobels have found out – the initiative is not always welcome.