Maros Presistoric Tourism Resort: Potential and Obstacles

Jajang Gunawijaya

Tourism Programme, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia

Keywords: Heritage, Cave Paintings, a Particular Interest, Tourism, Mass Tourism.

Abstract: The Maros Karst area is an archaeological site consisting of caves which on the inner walls are paintings of

ancient human palms that lived thousands of years ago. These hand paintings include the remains of past

life that are very rare in the history of human civilization. Thus the site is a tourist attraction that has

educational value on world heritage tourism resorts that need to be preserved and conserved. This research

used a field observation method and interview. It aims to evaluate the ancient Maros site with beautiful

natural scenery as a superior tourist resort with special interest tourism. Possibly, mass tourism could be

arranged with a touch of hospitality and amenity, prioritizing conservation in these historic caves.

1 INTRODUCTION

Pre-history of Maros tourist area, including heritage

tourism, is a tourist area with one or more tourist

attractions of cultural heritage. This heritage of the

past has historical values, values of pride and

identity of a nation. In terms of history, science, and

cultural wealth, the area is researched, conserved,

reconstructed, and communicated to the broader

community because it involves historical roots and

identity of a nation. However, in terms of the natural

area, it is vulnerable to damage due to its sites and

artefacts. It is very outdated. This condition requires

high creativity and accuracy if you want to package

it into an attractive tourist resort.

In the Kars Maros area, there are many caves

with paintings of ancient human palms on the inner

walls. These are classified as rare in the history of

human civilization, if conserved, managed and

packaged professionally will be entertaining,

educative and sustainable cultural tourism

destinations. However, due to improper

management, the existence of the site will be in vain.

It will also be damaged by the natural processes and

actions of the ignorant hands of humans. The

uniqueness of the area is as follows: hand painting

on the wall of a cave that is thousands of years old is

something scarce; beautiful natural scenery in the

form of rock hills and vegetation that spoil the eyes;

local creativity that can still be developed to support

tourism.

The Maros Karst area, South Sulawesi, in

addition to being conserved, has also been opened

for historical tourism and educational tourism for the

people of Indonesia so that through the Maros region

a sense of pride will be aroused as a highly civilized

nation. Based on that, the problem of this research is

the management of heritage sites in Maros, South

Sulawesi, as an educative, beautiful, comfortable

and global tourist area with various obstacles. Based

on this, some of the research questions that I submit

are: (1) ls the management of the area in accordance

with the general principles of tourism? (2) What are

the obstacles faced in the management of the area?;

(3) How is the management of the area to become a

popular and conserved tourist destination?

2 LITERATUR REVIEW

Tourism is a travel activity and part of a short

voluntary journey to enjoy a variety of beauty,

uniqueness, comfort, and doing something to please

and indulge (Holloway, 1989: 9-10). Humans do

travel based on various motivations that encourage

people to do it (Holloway: 1989: 11). Macleod

(2004; 78) classifies travel motivation based on

physical, cultural, interpersonal and social status or

prestige. Physical motivation is related to various

activities to satisfy the physical such as exercise,

various activities that relax physical tension, and

activities. These activities aim to refresh the body.

Cultural motivation aims to see other cultures such

472

Gunawijaya, J.

Maros Presistoric Tourism Resort: Potential and Obstacles.

DOI: 10.5220/0010687100002967

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of Vocational Higher Education (ICVHE 2019) - Empowering Human Capital Towards Sustainable 4.0 Industry, pages 472-477

ISBN: 978-989-758-530-2; ISSN: 2184-9870

as art, food, forms of community life and others.

Interpersonal motivation aims to fulfil personal

emotions such as wanting to meet old friends or

relatives, new friends, new people or be free from

daily routine. The motivation for social prestige is

the distribution of hobbies, knowledge or education

such as seminars, conventions and others that

increase social prestige. (Macleod, 2004)

Cultural heritage is that everything in the form of

objects or non-objects is the result of historical

processes involving the cultural identity of a nation,

the inheritance of individuals and society or specific

collectives that contain specific historical values or

sociocultural values. Non-objects or non-objects

cultural heritage are social practices, expressions,

knowledge and skills that are recognized as an

inheritance by the community, community, or

specific individuals. Usually in the form of oral

traditions, performing arts, rituals, traditional skills,

and various traditions related to nature (Permana,

2016).

Heritage tourism is part of cultural tourism

activities, especially the culture of the past of a

nation. Tourists who visit heritage tourism resorts

aim to see, enjoy and obtain information about

ancestral cultural heritage and the historical

background behind the deceased. (Macleod, 2004).

Heritage tourism is classified as culturally motivated

tourism which aims to remind the existence, life and

glory of a nation's past so that visitors in addition to

admiring the work of human culture in the past also

obtain information or historical knowledge behind

objects object or site of the heritage. Thus, heritage

tourism is also an educational tour. Referring to

Holloway (1989: 9-10), a person on a tourist trip

aims to enjoy the uniqueness, beauty and comfort

that can be felt by the five senses. Management of

heritage tourism areas, including the Maros Karst

Area, must fulfil the elements of uniqueness, beauty,

and comfort if you want to become a tourist

destination. (Holloway, 1989).

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The method that we use in this study is interview

and observation of the research location. Interviews

were conducted at several companies consisting of

two managers, a local guide, two security officers

and two community leaders.

Interviews with two managers aim to obtain

information about the site governance system;

conditions of caves around the site; condition of the

picture of the palm and other images; funding and

funding sources; promotion system and the number

of tourist visits. A local guide was interviewed to

obtain information about the objective conditions of

cave paintings, travel routes in tourist sites, and

tourist characteristics. Interview with security

officers to obtain information on location security

systems; protection of objects from vandalism, theft

of cultural heritage objects and tourist behaviour

while in the area of the site. Community leaders

were interviewed to obtain information about the

effects of the existence of tourist resorts on welfare;

their attitude towards cultural heritage sites; attitude

towards tourists; and local creativity in utilizing

tourist sites. We also conducted a casual interview

with several local tourists whom we happened to

meet to obtain information on visiting motives and

tourist needs.

Observations are made on accessibility;

infrastructure; amenities; arrangement on location

such as directions or signs on the site; conditions of

caves which are opened for tourists and those that

have not been opened; tourist behaviour, and the

behaviour of local guides. The research activity was

carried out during September 2018 at the location of

the Maros Cave Cultural Site in Leang-Leang

District, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi.

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 The Cultural Heritage of Karst

Maros Area

One of the Cultural Heritage which is the pride of

Maros people, the people of South Sulawesi, the

Indonesian people, and even the world community

are cave paintings or rock drawings in

LeangTimpuseng, LeangBarugaya, Leang Jing,

LeangBettue, LeangBurung, LeangLompoa,

LeangSampeang, and LeangJarie, all of which are

declared to be the oldest relics of human culture in

the world, are estimated to be 40 thousand years old.

The word "leang" which names the location means

cave (in Maros, South Sulawesi). This word means

that Maros human civilization is no less compared to

French civilization in Europe and the civilization of

other nations in the world until before 2014 based on

the results of research by archaeologists, rock

images of LeangTimpuseng were declared the oldest

in the world. In the past, the world considered

Europe as the birth of modern human civilization,

but it turns out, our Cultural Heritage is older than

them. Images of French stonework in the same form

(images of palms) are the oldest aged 39,600 years

Maros Presistoric Tourism Resort: Potential and Obstacles

473

ago, while the age of LeangTimpuseng's palm is not

less than 39,900 years ago.

The cave sites which in 1950 when they were

first discovered could only be counted on the

fingers, such as LeangPettae, LeangPettaKere, and

LeangJarie, now in 2018 there are more than 200

cave sites. The more Cultural Heritage is revealed,

the harder it is for our efforts to preserve it.

Community needs for high daily life and

development demands that tend to prioritize

economic interests, cause our attention to cultural

heritage sites and objects to be very lacking. Cultural

heritage is a mirror of the greatness of the character

of our ancestors. It symbolizes the identity of our

nation that has had civilization.

The Maros Cultural Heritage site in addition to

presenting heritage tourism attractions, also has

beautiful natural scenery, so that the area has the

potential to be used as a world-class mainstay tourist

resort for special inters tourism or mass tourism.

Because the arrangement is not optimal, the area has

not been the target of visits by national or

international tourists, except researchers or

archaeologists.

At present the area has been managed and funded

by the central government and the Antiquities

Service of the South Sulawesi Provincial

Government, infrastructure development including

access to locations has been built, as well as the

facilities needed have met minimum standards.

However, the number of tourist visits is still not

encouraging. The lack of management of the

existing area and infrastructure has made it difficult

to make the area a national and international tourist

destination. Also, the management of this area has

not noticed the hospitality and amenities needed by

the world of tourism. Weak management can be seen

from the low comfort and beauty that can be

witnessed starting from accessibility, the main gate,

structuring in the area, cave site security to the poor

delivery of information about sites and artefacts

contained. Thus, the area is more suitable for

researchers than for general tourists. When properly

organized and managed, this area can become an

attractive tourist attraction that can be enjoyed by

special interests and mass tourism tourists.

Figure 1: Accessibility to the Maros region. Even though

the road is concrete but it looks arid (source: R.

CecepEkapermana).

Figure 2: Accessibility that penetrates residential areas

feels arid (source: R. CecepEkapermana).

Figure 3: The area gate looks stiff and formal like a

factory area (Source: R. CecepEkapermana).

ICVHE 2019 - The International Conference of Vocational Higher Education (ICVHE) “Empowering Human Capital Towards Sustainable

4.0 Industry”

474

Figure 4: Ticket station entering the area, the background

is quite beautiful, but poor ornamental plants to feel stiff

and less friendly (source: R. CecepEkapermana).

From figure 1 to 4 above is accessibility to the

entrance of the tourist area, accessibility seems

barren, stiff and far from friendliness and comfort,

which are the primary needs for tourists. This need

will be fulfilled if as long as accessibility is

overgrown by large trees that are shady and

flowering such as flamboyant, flowers and the like,

or ornamental trees suitable for hot air such as

bougainvillaea or colourful paper flowers. This type

of tree is suitable for growing in Indonesia and is

easy to care. Around the gate will be more beautiful

and comfortable when planted with flowering

ornamental plants that are commonly grown in the

tropics.

Figure 5: scenery in the site arena (source: R.

CecepEkapermana).

In figure 5 the atmosphere inside the site is

stunning to look at and suitable for photo shoots, but

it would be more beautiful if on the left and right the

path was planted with colourful tropical flowers and

neat directions. In picture 6, the hospitality will be

felt if the flower plants or tropical ornamental plants

are planted lined up in front of natural granite (kars)

pillars, so it is very memorable and gives birth to

memories when tourists make photos or photos of

themselves in the area.

Figure 6: open space with views against the pillars natural

granite (source: R. CecepEkapermana).

Figure 7: the mouth of one cave with a picture of a hand

painting (source: R. CecepEkapermana).

Figure 8: Painting of ancient human hands on the walls

and ceiling of the cave dominated by red (source: R.

CecepEkapermana).

In figure 7 above the cave, yard is not maintained

and not conserved, even signposts or markers in

front of the cave seem so rough that it should be

Maros Presistoric Tourism Resort: Potential and Obstacles

475

better or more modern according to the standard of

tourism. The cave face has no security at all, so if

the mass tourists or the general enter the possibility

of the cave system will be disrupted, and the

situation of the cave will be increasingly fragile.

In figure 8, is an ancient human hand painting

which is precisely the main attraction of heritage

tourism in Maros, a world heritage that must be

preserved and conserved. If public tourists are

allowed to enter into it, inevitably, the age of world

heritage is already very fragile will be more quickly

damaged and destroyed. There are dozens of caves

in the Maros area that have such hand painting. It

must be sought so that public tourists can enjoy the

painting and get complete information without

having to enter the historic cave and the paintings on

the walls of the caves must be conserved.

4.2 Special Interest Tourism

Special Interest Tourism tourists who visit particular

tourist areas such as historic cave sites in Maros are

not as numerous as mass tourism. However, tourists

are trained, experienced in conservation matters and

need careful preparation in carrying out tourism

activities so that sites and artefacts that are tourist

attractions are not damaged. Thus, even though the

amount is not much, it requires a more extended

stay. Besides, they do not need expensive facilities

and infrastructure, such as mass tourism. The more

challenging to achieve this tourist attraction it will

be a challenge for participants. For Maros tourist

resorts, hand-painted caves should not be opened to

the public, but only to train people and experts who

are permitted, it is intended to maintain the integrity

of the location and tourist attractions so that they are

not extinct or damaged. If lay tourists are permitted

to enter the caves, the humidity and balance of PH in

the cave will be damaged until finally the ancient

paintings on the cave walls will also be damaged.

Tourists of this type by Macleod (2004: 78) belong

to culturally motivated tourists who travel to remind

the existence, life and glory of a nation's past,

through artefacts that can be witnessed with

complete information (Macleod, 2004)

4.3 Mass Tourism Area (Mass

Tourism)

Except for the interior of the cave in which there are

ancient paintings, the area can become a mass

tourism area. The area is open to the ordinary people

though, it can be realized due to various things: (1)

the main attraction is ancient paintings on the cave

wall, but the painting is inside caves that are located

quite steep so that it is dangerous for visitors if they

have to enter into it besides damaging the cave

ecosystem and damaging the existence of the

painting itself. The trick is to provide a large photo

in a waterproof glass box in front of the cave. The

box contains pictures of ancient paintings equipped

with written explanations or audio. Through these

media, tourists can know and understand the

meaning of paintings and the background story and

remain an exciting presentation; (2) the natural

panorama of the area is breathtaking and amazing,

yet very pampering to the eyes of tourists, enjoying

the clean and fresh air. This situation is suitable for

tourists who love hiking, tracking, camping or just

recreation and take pictures or take pictures of life;

(3) cultural tourism parks can continue to be with a

unique substantial stone background beside stunning

rock hills, a meeting building that can be used for

various purposes, an ancient museum arranged by a

professional. This information centre is equipped

with a modern audiovisual, restaurant or canteen that

serves local food, a souvenir shop whose

commodities are made by local people who have

been fostered, and others.

In order to increase the attractiveness of mass

tourists, it is necessary to pay attention to the

following matters: (1) roads that become access to

the Maros mountainous area must be cleared of

garbage and manure; (2) roads and surrounding

areas in the wista area must be shaded with

flowering trees such as flamboyant, bugur,

bougenville or paper flowers, so that the serene and

beautiful atmosphere that is needed by tourists is

fulfilled; (3) a spot photo view is provided so that

tourists can take photos of their scenery and photos

which become pride and memories when

disseminated to other parties using social media, this

indirectly becomes a place for free promotion for

managers; (4) provided various facilities needed by

tourists so that they are happy and feel at home for a

long time in locations such as: toilets that are quite

large and clean, fragrant and comfortable; Wi-Fi

network so that tourists can use it to communicate

using gadgets and social media with their families or

relations; (5) a restaurant or canteen is provided

which provides typical Maros regional food which is

managed by local residents so that the surrounding

community can feel the economic effects of the

tourism activities; (6) provided a beautiful and

comfortable short break for tourists; (7) there is a

souvenir shop that provides typical Maros

commodities that can be a memory for tourists. In

realizing this situation, it needs professional

ICVHE 2019 - The International Conference of Vocational Higher Education (ICVHE) “Empowering Human Capital Towards Sustainable

4.0 Industry”

476

management and regulation from the managers and

their staff including preparing the surrounding

community to understand the importance of tourism

potential in Maros and to be able to participate in it.

If it is fulfilled then the need for someone to travel to

the ancient Maros site to enjoy the uniqueness,

beauty and comfort that can be felt by the five five

senses can be fulfilled (Holloway, 1989)

5 CONCLUSION

Based on the description above, Maros tourist resort

is a non-living heritage tourism resort that has the

potential to become a national and international

tourist destination, because tourist attractions in the

form of hand painting on the walls and ceilings of

the cave have a high historical value of civilization

in addition to the uniqueness and beauty of its

natural panorama. However, the tourist area has not

yet been widely known and is still limited to local

tourists and archaeological researchers. Therefore,

the conclusions that we can convey are: (1) Maros

Heritage Tourism Area has great potential to be

developed into a world heritage tourism destination;

(2) The principles of tourism activities involving

hospitality, amenities, facilities and supporting

elements need to be further improved; (3) the

weakness is that the management of the area has not

been professionally based on the standards of amity

and hospitality needed as the essence of the world of

tourism; (4) non-living heritage tourism areas which

are very fragile and threatened with sustainability,

will become favourite tourist destinations if

managed by paying attention to special interest

tourism and mass tourism while maintaining the

principles of hospitality, amenities for tourists and

carry out the principles of continuous coordination,

conservation and promotion.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The material of this article was a part of my

fieldwork results in Maros, South Sulawesi during

2018-2019, funded by the University of Indonesia.

The fieldwork also held by Dr R. Cecep Eka

Permana from Faculty of Sciences and Culture

Universitas of Indonesia who concerns to the other

side of that research. The photographies that listed in

this article had given by him.

REFERENCES

Permana,Cecep Eka. 2016. KamusIstilah Arkeologi-

CagarBudaya, WedatamaWidya Sastra. Jakarta.

Hassel, Jan Van. 1994. Tourism an Exploration, Prentice-

Hall International. New Jersey.

Holloway, J. Christopher, 1989. The Business of Tourism,

Pitman. London.

Jackson, Ian, 1989.An Introduction to Tourism, Hospitality

Press. Melbourne.

Macleod, Donald V. L, 2004. Tourism, Globalisation and

Cultural Change, Channel View Publications.

Toronto.

Maros Presistoric Tourism Resort: Potential and Obstacles

477