From Stories to Destination: The Potential of Literary Tourism on Asei Island, Papua
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v26i2.1053Abstract
Asei Island is an ancient island located on Lake Sentani in Papua, Indonesia. According to myth and history, the island was inhabited by the ancient Sentani people, who originated from East Sepik, Papua New Guinea. Asei Island possesses a rich cultural and literary heritage expressed through its oral traditions, like myths, legends, fables as well as oral poetry and distinctive bark paintings. Despite this wealth of storytelling and symbolism, Asei’s cultural assets remain largely untapped as a form of tourism. This article explores the potential of literary tourism as a sustainable approach to preserving and promoting the island’s cultural heritages. It examines how oral narratives, visual literature, and local art can be transformed into meaningful tourism experiences that engage visitors while empowering local communities. This qualitative research was conducted from June to October 2025 on Asei Island and several villages along the shores of Lake Sentani. Data were collected through interviews with informants, including tribal chiefs, Sentani elders, and the Jayapura Regency Tourism Office. The data were also supplemented with published folklore documentation. Through initiatives such as storytelling and singing festivals, cultural trails, community-based workshops, literary tourism could strengthen cultural identity, enhance economic opportunities, and foster intercultural understanding. The article concludes that developing literary tourism on Asei Island represents not only a path to sustainable tourism but also a means of safeguarding the island’s living traditions for future generations.
References
Busby, G., & Klug, J. (2001). Movie-induced tourism: The challenge of measurement and other issues. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7(4), 316–332. https://doi.org/10.1177/135676670100700403
Dang, T. K. P. (2021). Tourism imaginaries and the selective perception of visitors: Postcolonial heritage in Con Dao Islands, Vietnam. Island Studies Journal, 16(1), 249–270. https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.132
Eko Susilo, B., Avenzora, R., & Rachmad Hermawan. (2018). Potensi Folklore untuk Pengembangan Ekowisata di Kabupaten Mappi, Provinsi Papua.
Fatubun, R. R., & Raymond, R. (2017). An archetypal reading of the manarmakeri myth from Biak, Papua: Its development implications and political significance. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 11(9), 157–164.
Giampiccoli, A., & Kalis, J. H. (2012). Community-based tourism and local culture: the case of the amaMpondo (Vol. 10, Number 1). www.pasosonline.org
Giampiccoli, A., Saayman, M., & Jugmohan, S. (2014). Developing community-based tourism in South Africa: Addressing the missing link. In African Journal for Physical (Vol. 20, Number 2).
Hoppen, A., Brown, L., & Fyall, A. (2014). Literary tourism: Opportunities and challenges for the marketing and branding of destinations? Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 3(1), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JDMM.2013.12.009
Jubi. (2023). Belasan Pohon Sagu Di Pinggiran Danau Sentani Ditebang Dalam Sepekan | Jubi Papua. https://jubi.id/kabupaten-jayapura/2023/belasan-pohon-sagu-di-pinggiran-danau-sentani-ditebang-dalam-sepekan/
Jubi. (2024). Sehari Tak Makan Papeda, Serasa Belum Makan Apa-apa | Jubi Papua. https://jubi.id/mamta/2024/sehari-tak-makan-papeda-serasa-belum-makan-apa-apa/
Kamma, F. C. (1975). Religious Texts of the Oral Tradition from Western New-Guinea (Irian Jaya): The origin and sources of life (Number v. 1). Brill.
Malawat, I. (2018). Struktur dan Fungsi Mitos Kerajaan Raja Ampat. Melanesia : Jurnal Ilmiah Kajian Bahasa Dan Sastra, 2(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.30862/jm.v2i1.780
Mentansan, G., Sudardi, B., & Widodo, S. T. (2022). Cultural Heterogenization in Raja Ampat Traditional Society (A case study on modernity power in Waisai regency of Raja Ampat, West Papua). Sosiohumaniora, 24(1), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.24198/SOSIOHUMANIORA.V24I1.29348
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Sandaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Park, E., & Widyanta, A. (2022). Food tourism experience and changing destination foodscape: An exploratory study of an emerging food destination. Tourism Management Perspectives, 42, 100964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100964
Salazar, N. B. (2012). Tourism Imaginaries: A Conceptual Approach. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(2), 863–882. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ANNALS.2011.10.004
Su, M. M., & Wall, G. (2014). Community Participation in Tourism at a World Heritage Site: Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing, China. International Journal of Tourism Research, 16(2), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1909
Sudardi, B. (2024). Literary Tourism: Elevating the Potential of Literature to Increase Tourist Attractions. International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies, 43(1), 186–192. https://doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v43.1.6007
Suroto, H. (2016). Situs Yomokho di Distrik Sentani Timur, Kabupaten Jayapura. Naditira Widya, 6(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.24832/nw.v6i1.81
Susilo, B. E., Avenzora, R., & Hermawan, R. (2018). Potentials Folklore to the Development of Ecotourims in Mappi Region, Papua Province. Media Konservasi, 23(1), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.29243/medkon.23.1.18-27
Topler, P. J., Baleiro, R., Capecchi, G., & Mansfield, C. (2024). Researching Literary Tourism: A Handbook for Students and Supervisors. University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ft.4.2024
Trencher, G., Yarime, M., McCormick, K. B., Doll, C. N. H., & Kraines, S. B. (2014a). Beyond the third mission: Exploring the emerging university function of co-creation for sustainability. Science and Public Policy, 41(2), 151–179. https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/sct044
Trencher, G., Yarime, M., McCormick, K. B., Doll, C. N. H., & Kraines, S. B. (2014b). Beyond the third mission: Exploring the emerging university function of co-creation for sustainability. Science and Public Policy, 41(2), 151–179. https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/sct044
Watson, N. J. (2006). The Literary Tourist. Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230584563
Yektingtyas, W., Morin, I., Rafra, P., & Modouw, J. (2025). Pulau Asei, Permata Tersembunyi di Danau Sentani: Potensi dan Proyeksi Pariwisata di Kabupaten Jayapura. UNY Press.
Yektiningtyas, W. (2011). Mengenal Ehabla: Lantunan lisan Sentani Papua . UNY Press.
Yektiningtyas, W., & Dewi, N. (2023). “The sun is watching”: Unraveling the Sentani people’s ecological knowledge through folklore. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies, 656-666–656–666. https://doi.org/10.14456/HASSS.2023.55
Yektiningtyas, W., & Morin, I. (2020). Preserving Sentani Folklore to Promote Creative Economy in Jayapura, Papua. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change. Www.Ijicc.Net, 14(1), 2020. www.ijicc.net
Yektiningtyas, W., Morin, I., Modouw-Gulo, M. P., & Modouw, J. (2025). Asei Island: A Hidden Gem in Lake Sentani—Tourism Potential and Projections in Jayapura Regency. UNY Press.
Yektiningtyas, W., Suhirman, L., Ferdinandus, A., & Br Ginting, J. P. (2024). Bringining Culture to Life: Utilizing Wood Carving in Speaking Class. LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, 27(2), 803–817. https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v27i2.7621
Yektiningtyas, W., & Wally, A. R. (2025). The Potential for Literary Tourism at Lake Sentani, Jayapura Regency.
Zheng, Y., Wei, W., Zhang, L., & Ying, T. (2024). Tourist Gaze at Chinese Classical Gardens: The Embodiment of Aesthetics (Yijing) in Tourism. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 48(2), 353–379. https://doi.org/10.1177/10963480221085958
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Adelce Sisilia Ferdinandus, Wigati Yektiningtyas, Wally Andri Robert, Meggy Mokay (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
