When Political Will Fades

Policy Discontinuity and Tourism Stagnation on Rupat Island, Indonesia

Abstract

The abrupt stagnation of tourism development on Rupat Island, Indonesia, following a 2015 political leadership change presents a compelling case study of policy discontinuity in decentralized governance systems. This research investigates how the transition from Regent Herliyan Saleh (2010-2015) to his successor triggered the collapse of a previously successful tourism development initiative, despite the island's designation as a national strategic tourism area. The study employs a qualitative single-case study design, utilizing multiple data sources including government planning documents, budgetary records, in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, and extensive field observations conducted between 2017-2018. The findings reveal a two-phase developmental trajectory: rapid progress (2010-2015) driven by a powerful policy entrepreneur who allocated approx. 500 billion rupiah to infrastructure development, followed by immediate stagnation post-2015 when the new administration abandoned key projects, particularly a crucial 20-kilometer road connection. The research illustrates that the failure to institutionalize tourism development policy within permanent bureaucratic or legal frameworks created vulnerability to political transitions, effectively derailing national strategic objectives through local electoral politics. The study contributes to understanding policy implementation challenges in developing democracies, highlighting the critical need for institutional mechanisms that protect long-term development projects from political discontinuity. These findings have significant implications for sustainable tourism development in decentralized systems, emphasizing the importance of embedding transformative initiatives within robust institutional frameworks rather than relying solely on individual political champions.