UNAIR NEWS – The fourth day of 13th ICAS was filled with various panel discussions, roundtable discussions, and festivals. Among these was a panel discussion focusing on how East and Southeast Asian countries represent their cultural identities.
The panel, titled “Identity and Representation in East and Southeast Asia,” took place on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in room P2.09 at the Postgraduate School Building, Dharmawangsa-B Campus, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). The session featured a range of topics on how various countries represent their cultures through traditions, tourism, and cuisine.
Ethiopian coffee’s unique appeal
Ohsoon Yun from the Ethiopian Culture Research Institute in South Korea discussed her exploration of coffee tourism in regions known for coffee production, focusing particularly on Ethiopia. “In my opinion, there are only two types of coffee in the world: Ethiopian coffee and everything else,” she said.
Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, is renowned for its high-quality coffee from regions such as Kaffa, Yirgacheffe, Harar, Sidama, Limu, Jimma, and Guji. Despite Ethiopia’s abundant resources and its status as a popular coffee tourism destination, the country faces challenges in seriously developing its coffee sector.
“As someone who has completed both a Master’s and PhD on coffee tourism in Ethiopia and is currently involved in related business activities, I continue to conduct research in this field,” Ohsoon Yun added.
Shifting perceptions of Japan in Indonesia and Malaysia
The next presenter, Nur Widiyanto from Ambarrukmo Tourism Institute in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, shared his research titled “Tourism Development and a Newly Constructed Image of the Japanese: A Study in Penang and Bali.”
He presented the national education system, folklore, and the presence of war museums in Indonesia and Malaysia. In both countries, the bitter legacy of the Japanese occupation continues to be represented in various ways. There has also been a significant transformation from the colonial era to the political and economic diplomatic relations that have developed in recent decades.
Additionally, there has been a shift in the perception of Japan due to tourism activities. Widiyanto’s study focuses on the role of direct interactions between local residents in Bali and Penang and Japanese visitors in shaping a new image of Japan.
In his presentation, Widiyanto explained that while relations with Japan have improved, collective memories of the Japanese occupation persist. “Direct interactions with Japanese tourists can help improve Japan’s image in Bali and Penang, but other factors, such as behavior and the economic benefits of tourism, also play a crucial role,” he noted.
Author: Febriana Putri Nur Aziizah
Editor : Edwin Fatahuddin
