Nov 128 min read

LATest e-bulletin November '24

In this issue: ① Quote of the month ② Everything changes so that nothing changes ③ The lost Language of Sulawesi Cia-Cia ④ So Many Good Reasons to Work with LAT ⑤ The Arc or the Art of Bamboo Living ⑥ Malaysia, KL Saloma Link ⑦ Malaysia, AirAsia goes Global ⑧ Indonesia, Tourism Development Index

"The most dangerous worldview is the view of those who have never looked at the world"

Alexander von Humboldt

Everything changes so that nothing changes

In Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s masterpiece The Leopard, the philosophy of change as mere appearance is encapsulated in one memorable line: by adopting the form and colours of new events, we ensure that nothing changes beyond the surface. This theme feels particularly relevant now, considering two recent regime changes in 2024, one in a global superpower and the other in a regionally influential Southeast Asian nation. Both administrations have promised transformation to varying extents, leaving us to question whether these shifts will bring genuine change or simply reinforce existing structures.

Is Trump’s re-election truly a harbinger of disruption, as some fear, or are we merely unsettled by the appearance of change when old ideas and entrenched power may pose the greater concern? Similarly, does General Prabowo Subianto’s election as Indonesia’s president mark a new phase of social progress, economic mobility, and increased equality? Or does it represent a continuity of power in the hands of an elite?

While we can’t answer these questions definitively, history, if it does indeed repeat itself, offers some insight. The outgoing Indonesia president, Joko Widodo, transformed from a layman focused on addressing the practical concerns of the electorate into a figure who gradually adopted the mantle of Indonesia's political elite. This evolution seems to affirm The Leopard’s theme, suggesting that the real transformation lies not in the promises of change, but in the adaptation of the ruling class to maintain its dominance.

Joko Widodo (Jokowi), once a symbol of hope, has undergone a transformation in public perception from a would-be saviour to a disappointment. Rising from humble beginnings as a furniture entrepreneur, Jokowi captured the Indonesian imagination, embodying the potential of merit-based success in a society with limited social mobility.

Ironically, Jokowi's presidency owes much to the democratic reforms of the Reformasi movement, which brought down the authoritarian Suharto regime in 1998. Yet, Jokowi systematically weakened institutions established to safeguard these reforms, particularly the Corruption Eradication Commission and the Constitutional Court. His influence over the Constitutional Court was reinforced when his sister married the court’s chief justice, who later ruled in favour of Jokowi’s son, Gibran, running as Prabowo's vice-presidential candidate despite age restrictions.

Initially we were hopeful that an outsider might bring lasting reform. But in retrospect, Jokowi’s governance style always hinted at populist inclinations rather than substantive policy commitments. What he has done in real terms was to established his own political dynasty.

As Prabowo assumes the presidency, two visions of Indonesia lie before us: one in which economic development aligns with democratic values, and another dominated by oligarchic interests where civil liberties give way to development imperatives. Given Prabowo’s record and commitment to continue Jokowi’s legacy, it seems likely that Indonesia will lean towards the latter path for the foreseeable future.

The lost Language of Sulawesi Cia-Cia

The Cia-Cia language in Indonesia is gaining a written form for the first time, thanks to Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Traditionally an oral language, Cia-Cia is now being taught to children on Buton Island, south of Sulawesi, using Hangul, after initial efforts with Arabic script proved unsuccessful. The syllable structure of Hangul fits well with Cia-Cia's phonetics, marking a unique intercultural collaboration led by former Baubau mayor and Korean academics who visited the island in 2009.

The project faced challenges, like a shortage of teachers, but gained momentum with a Cia-Cia dictionary publication in 2020. Today, Hangul appears on street signs and in local schools, offering students a way to write in their native tongue. However, with Bahasa Indonesia dominating, few young people speak Cia-Cia daily. Community elders emphasize that while a script aids preservation, regular spoken use is essential to keep Cia-Cia alive. Documenting stories and local wisdom in Hangul will safeguard the Cia-Cia heritage for future generations.

The journey to find a written script for the Cia-Cia language initially began with the Arabic alphabet, traditionally used in the region for the Wolio dialect since the 1500s. However, Arabic proved ill-suited for Cia-Cia's syllabic structure, which shares more in common with Korean phonetics. This linguistic compatibility inspired South Korean academics to introduce Hangul to the Cia-Cia community in 2009. After a visit to Buton Island, they helped two local instructors from Baubau travel to South Korea, where they studied Hangul in-depth at Seoul National University. Their work included developing teaching materials and adapting the Korean script to fit the nuances of Cia-Cia, laying the foundation for a new, written form of the language.

The use of Hangul for Cia-Cia has sparked debate. Critics argue that adopting a foreign script, particularly one associated with a powerful cultural influence like Korea, risks eroding the Cia-Cia community's unique identity. They worry that reliance on an external alphabet might pave the way for cultural dominance, reshaping or overshadowing indigenous elements. However, supporters counter that Hangul offers a practical means to preserve and document the language, bridging gaps where the Roman and Arabic scripts fell short. They see this international blend as an opportunity to safeguard Cia-Cia’s linguistic heritage in a more accessible form, allowing future generations to keep their traditions alive.

So Many Good Reasons to Work with LAT

Established in 1991

Independently owned and operated

Purely B2B with travel industry partners

Online booking engine with immediate

confirmation of hotels, tours and transfers

Skilful Contents Provider and Technology user

Knowledgeable and efficient reservations personnel

Long and proud association with the MICE industry in all Lotus destinations

Fully committed to Sustainability and CSR

Climate Contribution for all packages and services on offer Extensive selection of scheduled group departures and innovative product lines

Direct access to a vast pool of local professional contributors

Owns small boutique island hotels strategically located

LAT Indochina subsidiary operating in Thailand and Vietnam

Multilingual guides in all destinations

Operations offices throughout its destinations

Centralised bookings and payments for multi destination tours 24/7 assistance with interactive voice response available in four languages

LAT Application with UpToDate itineraries and info for guests. Downloadable from Apple and Play Stores

TATTLER

The Arc, or the art of Bamboo Living

Bamboo has gained traction as an eco-friendly construction material, praised for its impressive strength-to-weight ratios, which outshine conventional materials like wood and steel. With compressive strength 10% higher than wood and tensile strength three to four times that of steel, bamboo has captivated those seeking sustainable alternatives in construction. In bamboo-abundant regions, especially in developing parts of Asia, it remains a cost-effective and attractive choice, despite its higher maintenance demands compared to conventional materials.

The Arc, located on Bali’s Green School campus, is a 760-square-meter bamboo marvel, serving as an auditorium and gymnasium with a full-size basketball court. Completed in 2021, its design employs a 19-meter-long bamboo grid shell structure, in which interconnected arches create stability through curves in opposing directions. This design is not only inspired by natural structures but also by human anatomy. Green School officials describe the Arc as mimicking the form and function of a rib cage, with the aesthetic flow reminiscent of Bali's famous waterfalls.

Adding to its eco-friendly design, the basketball court’s flooring is crafted from recycled aircraft tires, making the Arc a prime example of sustainable architecture in function and form. The use of bamboo, with its high tensile and compressive strength, demonstrates the material’s potential for large-scale, resilient structures.

HIGHLIGHTS

Malaysia, KL Saloma Link

Kuala Lumpur has been bustling with fresh developments and restorations, adding a new sparkle to the city's renowned attractions. Among these is the striking Saloma Link, a 70-meter pedestrian and cyclist bridge that spans the Klang River and the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway. Connecting the charming historic village of Kampung Baru to Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), the bridge serves as a scenic pathway for those traveling between two of the city’s iconic areas. Aside from its practical function, Saloma Link is an architectural marvel, offering one of the best spots to view the towering Petronas Twin Towers. From this vantage point, you can see the upper halves of the towers, beautifully contrasted against KL’s urban skyline. The bridge is also illuminated at night, enhancing the city’s vibrant nightscape and solidifying Kuala Lumpur’s nickname as the Garden City of Lights.

Malaysia, AirAsia goes Global

AirAsia is setting its sights on major global expansion, aiming to launch routes to Africa, Europe, and the U.S. within the next few years. Capital A, AirAsia's parent company, announced this ambitious plan, expressing the airline's goal of achieving worldwide coverage by 2030. AirAsia, historically focused on serving regional routes within Asia, sees these new destinations as a strategic opportunity to tap into diverse markets, from emerging economies in Africa to established Western travel hubs. This expansion aligns with AirAsia’s recent restructuring, allowing it to better compete on a global scale. Capital A pointed out that AirAsia will prioritize connecting with emerging African nations and Western countries, capitalizing on both new and established travel demand while strengthening AirAsia's reputation beyond Asia.

Indonesia, Tourism Development Index

The Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 ranks Indonesia 22nd out of 119 countries overall with Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index score of 4.46.[6] This is a significant improvement for Indonesian tourism sector. Previously in 2019 Indonesia ranks 40th out of 140 countries overall with index score of 4.3.[7][8] It is a two steps improvement from Indonesia's 2017 position of 42nd out of 136 countries overall with index score of 4.2.[9][10] The 2015 report ranks the price competitiveness of Indonesia's tourism sector the 3rd out of 141 countries. It mentions that Indonesia has quite good travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions (ranked 9th). The country also scores quite good on natural and cultural resources (ranked 17th). However, the country scored rather low in infrastructure sub-index (ranked 75th), as some aspects of tourist service infrastructure are underdeveloped.

Our whole product for free and independent travellers, groups and MICE are based on a Climate Contribution programme. This means that part of the greenhouse gas emissions that will be generated are offset by projects in collaboration with Climate Partner, one of the leading climate protection solution providers for companies.

The arising emissions are being compensated by supporting a third-party certified geothermal energy project in Darajat, Java (Indonesia). The project helps to meet the growing demand for electricity in Indonesia. By increasing the share of renewable energy, the dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity decreases, and about 705,390 tonnes of CO2 emissions are saved per year.

For over thirty years, Lotus Asia Tours Group has provided services and assistance to travellers the world over, specialising in the design and implementation of corporate events, activities, incentive tours and motivational travel, targeted at FIT, GIT and MICE markets, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indochina. The group also operates four boutique island hotels in Indonesia, in Lombok, Bali, Sulawesi and Papua.

To learn more about our brand please head to our website, or contact us directly; we look forward to hearing how we could help make your next trip, tour or event memorable and successful.

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