Guests are kings
But where are the workers’ rights?
In tourism, “customer satisfaction” is often treated as sacred. But behind the smiles, many workers — especially interns — are left unprotected.
THIS POLICY BRIEF ASKS A DIFFICULT QUESTION
Who is actually being protected in Indonesia's tourism industry?
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU
This is structural.
Most interns never report what happens to them — because of:
- Fear of losing opportunities
- Power imbalance with supervisors or guests
- No safe reporting system
Silence isn't consent. It's survival.
0
%
of tourism interns experienced sexual harassment
2023 yogyakarta study - wtid
The power imbalance
"The guest is king" creates unequal power
When workers are expected to smile no matter what, boundaries disappear. This culture normalizes:
Sexual Jokes
Inappropriate touching
Grooming disuised as a "personal relationship"
Service should never cost someone their dignity.
The legal gap
The law exists. But interns are still invisible
Indonesia has laws on sexual violence. But interns in the tourism sector are not explicitly protected. Without clear rules:
- Institutions prioritize image over safety
- Cases are silenced, not resolved
- Victims are blamed, not supported
Regulation without implementation is not protection.
📑 Inside the full brief
- Structural analysis of secual violence in tourism
- Mapping of power relations in the workplace
- Clear and actionable policy recommendations
- Why intern protection must be mandatory