The Impacts Of Decentralization In Indonesia Tourism Essay Example

of new territories, known as catchment areas/territorial reforms. It has also resulted in institutional changes, such as dividing or reforming existing territories into two or three new territories, although the fusion of two territories into one has not yet occurred in Indonesia. The establishment of catchment areas refers to Government Regulation No. 19 of 2000, later amended by Government Regulation No. 48 of 2007. This phenomenon has led to the emergence of new regions, both countries and districts or cities, throughout Indonesia.

The text states that according to Government ordinance No 78 of twelvemonth 2007, the demands for organizing new territory/districts can be classified into three categories. The first category is Technical Requirements which includes factors such as administrative capability, accessibility to public service, economic capability, genuine acceptance potential, societal cultural factors, socio-political factors, territorial breadth, geographical conditions, security/defense, and other factors that enable regional autonomy. The second category is Administrative Requirements which includes the approval of relevant Regency/City Regional House of People's Representatives and Regent/Mayor, approval of Province Regional House of People's Representatives and Governor, and recommendation from the Minister of Department of Internal Affairs. The third category is Physical Requirements which involves the availability of office/facilities infrastructure for the government of the new territory's capital city, as well as the capital city of the host territory if the reformed territory becomes the capital city. This also includes the boundary area. On closer observation, it can be seen that Government Regulation no 78 of twelvemonth 2007 is similar to previous regulations that focused more on quantitative considerations and paid less or no attention to capacity in various aspects when forming new territories.The clarity of whether

the people or local constituency truly reflect public desire in organizing new territories remains uncertain up until now.

In the decentralisation discourse, the catchment country holds significant importance in the implementation of regional autonomy. The establishment of a new territory aims to improve public service within a specific jurisdiction and accelerate economic growth by utilizing the local potential of the area.

Absorbing more labor force into private sectors has significant effects on public service delivery and people's prosperity, as well as political relations and administration (Hermani, 2005). However, the reality contradicts these expectations, as data from the Bureau of Statistics (BPS) demonstrates that poverty and unemployment rates remain high in every territory, despite some reductions in certain areas (Rizal Sukma, 2009). Furthermore, public satisfaction with the quality of public service is extremely low, and corruption is rampant at the territorial level. This disparity between aspirations and the actual state of the new territories is evident.

The main idea is that closer authorities and people's relationship leads to better services and development. The purposes of this research are to establish a standard for catchment area and new district formation. This research is important for Indonesia's decentralization system and development process. The findings will be used as a proposal for the government on organizing new districts and regional development. The research will analyze the reasons for the increase in new districts in Indonesia and the impact of catchment areas on public service delivery and welfare. Decentralization is a popular choice for countries seeking improvement.

In reality, no state in the world, including monarchist states, strictly relies on centralization. Decentralization and centralization are interdependent within a state, except in cases of city-like

states like Singapore. According to Flezer (1972), choosing a decentralization system alone would result in the disappearance of the state and its government. Conversely, relying solely on centralization would jeopardize the state's ability to carry out its functions. Interestingly, decentralization is not only the opposite of centralization, but it is also seen as a solution to its own failures. In the dictionary, decentralization means transferring administrative concentration from central government to local/regional governments.

The concept of decentralization refers to the delegation of authority to a lower territorial hierarchy level in regards to disposal and administration. In terms of the economy, decentralization is seen as a means to improve efficiency by requiring the public to provide secure services and products needed by local residents. This helps reduce costs, increase outputs, and make more effective use of human resources. From a political standpoint, decentralization is believed to enhance responsibility, political capability, and national integration, as it brings the government closer to its people. This ultimately leads to better services and promotes freedom, equality, and prosperity (B.C. Smith, 1985).

Theoretical frame work

Decentralization can be understood in three ways: broad democracy, economic, and Marxist readings ( Smith, 1985, 18-45 ). According to the broad democracy perspective, decentralization implemented by local governments has two major advantages. First, it contributes positively to the national economy's development. Second, it allows for decision-making based on people's aspirations without direct control from the central government, creating a strong connection to democracy. In this perspective, local governments benefit local people rather than being absorbed as a region/district or regional authority ( Hussein, 2001 ). The economic reading perspective views decentralization as a

crucial means of improving individual prosperity through public choice ( Stoker, 1991 ). Lastly, from the Marxist reading perspective, decentralization is seen to only lead to capital accumulation and the emergence of capitalists.

Moreover, according to Marxist ideology, decentralization is viewed as an expansion of control by central authorities in order to safeguard the interests of capital monopolies, thereby further neglecting the needs of marginalized regions. Marx argues that redistribution and justice can only be achieved through centralization. There are two main perspectives on decentralization. The first perspective perceives it as the transfer of authority/power from the central government to regional government. The second perspective focuses on local government and the establishment of new regions (Smith, 1985). In terms of transferring authority, there are various forms of decentralization. Rondinelly et al. (Meenakshiundaram, 1999) classify decentralization into four types: de-concentration, delegation, devolution, and privatization. De-concentration refers to assigning administrative authority or responsibility to a lower level.

The text discusses different forms of decentralization, namely delegation, degeneration, and denationalization. Delegation refers to the transfer of specific tasks to an external organization not controlled by the central government. Degeneration involves the establishment and strengthening of sub-national government units that operate independently from the central government. Denationalization entails shifting all governmental functions to a non-governmental organization. These concepts align with decentralization as a policy reform aiming to transfer responsibilities, resources, or authority from higher levels of government to lower ones (Cohen and Peterson, 1999).

There are three classifications of decentralization: administrative, financial, and political. In terms of administrative decentralization, local governments take on the responsibility of managing and providing social services (such as education, healthcare, social welfare, or housing). Fiscal decentralization aims

to improve the financial autonomy or revenue generation abilities of local governments. This can be achieved through policies such as increasing transfers from the central government, introducing new local taxes, or transferring tax authority previously held by the national government.

Last Political decentralization refers to a series of constitutional amendments and electoral reforms aimed at creating new or activating dormant spaces for subnational political representation. These policies also aim to delegate electoral capacities to non-national actors (Falleti, 2004).

Alternatively, decentralization can be categorized as a new region that incorporates local government. Hossein (2001) identified three meanings for this: firstly, local government, which is often associated with local authorities consisting of elected council members and mayors. The second meaning refers to the role of regional government authority. Lastly, it refers to the establishment of an autonomous region where its people have the freedom to control and manage their own domestic affairs based on their aspirations and objectives as part of the larger national entity and legal society through self-initiative.

The Dutch East Indies does not follow a federal system, so there are no provinces with independent powers. However, according to the Indonesian National Constitution, these regions will be established as regency/city parts, although they do not have sovereignty like in a federal system.

Type of Research

The research adopts a qualitative approach. The reason for this choice is rooted in the nature of the problem in the field of Public Administration, where the goal is not only to uncover measurable events, but also to reveal hidden values. Through a naturalistic research design, this study aims to provide a descriptive account of the phenomenon under investigation. Therefore, the most appropriate approach for

this research is qualitative. To achieve its objectives, this study will employ a case study method, which views the phenomenon as a single case worth observing. This method was developed by Guba and Lincoln (1985), Stake (2005), and Algozzine (2006).

The method involves conducting a comprehensive investigation on the observed instance through various resources. The research will specifically examine the effects of decentralization on both the new regional reform phenomenon and the welfare of the population.

Research Location: Indonesia

The study will take place in three states in Indonesia: East Java, Central Sulawesi, and West Kalimantan.

The decision on locations is influenced by multiple factors. Initially, Indonesia has experienced significant changes and implemented a decentralization system during its democratization process as one of the countries in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the choices are based on the existing disparities between Java and non-Java regions across various sectors. By choosing three distinct islands, our goal is to effectively represent these regions comprehensively. In addition, our selection of these three states aims to address the imbalance in new district/region development between Java and non-Java areas. Lastly, East Java, Central Sulawesi, and West Kalimantan states have been chosen to minimize potential biased data obtained.

Data Collection

The research worker will carry out three activity procedures to gather information: a. Getting in procedure. During this step, the research worker will facilitate interactions among various parties, including related officers and society members in the research's country. This will provide further insight and understanding of the environmental condition in the location. The aim is to establish a close relationship based on ethics and mutual understanding, with the goal of reducing social gaps through the

use of polite communication and normal behavior. b. Getting Along Process. At this stage, the research worker will immerse themselves in the local situation being observed and build personal connections to maintain familiarity with the sources.

By adhering to the prevailing regulations in the location, the research worker will conduct observation both directly and indirectly. This will involve discussing certain matters and exchanging information, leading to a discussion on the ethical standards as perceived by the research worker, based on the information gathered. The outcome of this discussion will be processed and interpreted using the appropriate methods, technical theories, and personal opinions (ethical); thereby obtaining comprehensive information in line with the research focus. Additional techniques used for collecting data at this stage include observation (both direct and indirect, formal and informal) and in-depth interviews.

The interviews will be conducted openly and structured, with a focus on job-related topics. This approach aims to gather comprehensive and in-depth information. By allowing for openness in information sharing, the interviewer seeks honesty and objectivity from the source. To prevent bias, the researcher will utilize a recording device authorized by the source, ensuring the complete capture of data and information. Archival Research.

The technique involves consolidating secondary information from papers, letters, provisions, archives, and other supporting data in the field. The selection of respondents is purposeful (purposive sampling), with the researcher choosing the key source. Additionally, the selection process evolves into a snowball approach (snowball sampling), with the researcher's need for data collection stability. Once the data sampling reaches a saturation point where no further information is found, the researcher will not seek new information and consider the data sampling process finished (adequate).

The

text discusses the various factors that can affect the number of sample information available, including the accuracy of informant choice and the complexity and variety of societal phenomena being observed. The data analysis technique used in this research is a model developed by Milles and Huberman (1994), which consists of four major components. Data reduction involves simplifying, abstracting, and transforming raw data obtained from written field notes. This process involves sharpening, categorizing, directing, eliminating unnecessary information, and organizing data to draw and verify conclusions.

To put it simply, simplifying qualitative data through data reduction allows for various transformation methods such as selective cutting, summarization, and categorization. Data presentation is another important aspect of analyzing information. A researcher defines "presentation" as an organized collection of data that facilitates drawing conclusions or taking action. By using data presentation methods like tables, matrices, and charts, one can easily visualize comprehensive images or specific diagrams. These presentations can include negative texts, sentences, or interview reconstructions that combine organized data in a coherent and accessible manner. This enables researchers to understand what has been happening and draw appropriate conclusions.

According to Miles and Huberman (1994), a competent research worker must approach the decision-making process in a flexible and skeptical manner. It is necessary for the research worker to carefully analyze and interpret the available data in order to establish a valid conclusion. This analysis involves reducing the data collected from field notes into a meaningful understanding of events and then organizing it into a systematic narrative. The research worker continues this process until they have obtained all the necessary data units for their research. Once the final data is gathered, the research

worker can draw a conclusion or confirm their initial hypothesis based on the field notes.

If the field note is insufficient or cannot be collected, the researcher must search for its completion from field data in a specific manner as a note. Before leaving the research site, the researcher must carefully review the data reduction, data presentation, and early analysis. If these steps are not sufficient to address the research questions, the researcher should prioritize completing them first. Despite using an angled approach (case study) with activities focused on the predetermined research problem and objectives, this research maintains flexibility and the final results of data sampling will reflect the actual conditions in the field. Thus, this research adopts a qualitative thought framework with its empirical inductive characteristics (Mulles and Huberman, 1994)6.

Validity Measurement According to Lincoln and Guba (1985) and Moleong (2002), examination technique is required to determine the validity of data. The implementation of this technique is based on standard features used, which are: credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability.

Credibility

Basically, the implementation of credibility standard replaces non qualitative and internal validity concept. This standard functions to create questions such that the level of trust of the findings can be achieved as well as demonstrating the degree of trust in the results by providing evidence through double-checking the observed facts.

A figure of ways to improve data collection in research are as follows:
- Increase the involvement of research workers in the data collection process. By involving the research worker as the main instrument, the time spent on data collection can increase the level of trust in the information gathered. This requirement suggests that data sampling should not solely

rely on census takers, as commonly seen in quantitative research.
- Consistently and genuinely execute observation to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the social phenomenon under study. The observation technique is essential in qualitative research.

This phenomenon is difficult to uncover through simple interviews. To address this, a triangulation approach is used, employing both the use of multiple data sources and multiple researchers collecting data. This triangulation technique allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. Additionally, involving colleagues who are not part of the research process in discussion and critique helps to further validate the results. This is necessary due to the complexity of the observed social phenomenon and the limitations of the researcher's abilities.

Transferability

Transferability is an empirical issue that depends on the similarities between the contexts of the transmitter and receiver.

In order to ensure transferability, the researcher collects empirical data within the same contexts. This allows the researcher to provide sufficient descriptive information. The transferability of results is typically linked to the question of how extensively research findings can be applied and utilized in other situations. For practical researchers, transferability hinges on the user's ability to apply and use the findings in specific contexts and scenarios.

The researcher cannot guarantee "external validity," which is why transferability is only seen as a possibility. If a user finds something suitable for their situation, transferability is possible, although it can be assumed that no two situations are exactly the same, so it still needs to be adjusted for each situation.

Dependability

Dependability is commonly known as reliability. Reliability is necessary for validity. Valid information can only be obtained through a reliable instrument. The main instrument in qualitative research

is the research itself.

This text discusses the optimization of a province through the combination of reliability and validity standards. The use of an audit trail is employed to ensure accuracy, a common practice in financial accounting. The investigation focuses on the research process and the level of data validity and interpretation. The research materials provided include raw data, such as observation and interview field notes, as well as recorded results. These materials are later tabulated and presented in the form of a field study. The results of data analysis, hypotheses, concepts, proportions, and data synthesis are also included, along with their interpretation, conclusion, definition, interrelationship with literature, and final reports. Notes on the data processing methodology, design, strategy, procedure, rationale, and efforts to establish trustworthiness are also provided, as well as the means to create an audit trail.

Conformability

The concept of objectiveness in non-qualitative research serves as the standard for conformability.

If a non-qualitative research focuses on individuals, the realistic research aims to emphasize the examination of information within a certain standard. This willingness can be clarified as follows: The Auditor (comparator) needs to ensure that the research's results truly originate from the gathered data. The Auditor attempts to determine if the conclusion is logically derived from the information. Furthermore, the Auditor conducts a research on the level of thoroughness exhibited by the researcher. If there is a decrease in thoroughness, the Auditor examines whether the scrutiny of data validity was conducted properly. If the scrutiny of data validity demonstrates that the research's results meet the aforementioned standard, it can be concluded that this research's outcome depends on the reliability of the researcher.