Life after tsunami: the transformation of a post-tsunami and post-conflict tourist destination; the case of halal tourism, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami not only impacted the environment, politics and society, but also changed the performance of tourism as an economic sector in Aceh, Indonesia. This article explores both the tourism transformations that have been taking place in Aceh as a result of the tsunami and the challenges associated with those transformations. The points of analyses cover: 1) the stages of tourism development before, during and after the tsunami; 2) the forms and types of post-tsunami transformations; and 3) the current condition of the tourism industry. A resilience approach combined with Butler’s tourist area life cycle (TALC) model shows that disaster can also trigger the development of new forms of tourism. It appears likely that supportive social contexts, the availability of innovation that is acceptable to the local community, and the supply and marketing of tourism resources are key enabling factors for tourism transformation and becoming part of the post-disaster recovery strategy, thereby enhancing resilience.