Philippine E-Journals

The Epistemology of Policy Indicators: Indonesia’s Tourism Development Index (IPKN)

Vyana Lohjiwa | Janianton Damanik | Heddy Shri Ahimsa Putra | Tri Kuntoro Priyambodo

Discipline: tourism, transport and travel

 

Abstract:

Tourism indexing is increasingly becoming an evidence-based policy making tool. However, most studies focus on measuring competitiveness, developing indicators, and identifying the significant factors. Meanwhile, attention to the epistemological basis behind indexbased policy relatively limited. This study aims to examine the philosophical basis behind National Tourism Development Index (IPKN) in Indonesia and to assess alignment with Indonesia’s Tourism Law, this study is important because when the validity of an index is judged only methodologically rather than epistemologically, the resulting policy risk measuring development through an externally defined lens rather than the nation’s own vision. This study uses a qualitative approach through paradigm analysis by combining documentary studies and in-depth interviews with key actors involved in IPKN. The analysis uses a paradigm framework that focuses on four main elements: objectives, basic assumptions, values, and models that shape policy construction. Data were analysed thematically and interpreted to identify the philosophical logic behind IPKN. The results indicate that IPKN is built upon an epistemological toward positivism, adopted from global indexing framework. This study critiques that epistemological of IPKN is dominance of technocratic logic over contextual tourism development logic. Therefore, this study proposes a shift from a positivistic approach toward a post-positivistic approach that does not rely solely on quantitative indicators but integrates social, cultural, and interpretive dimensions. This study contributes the theoretical literature on index-based tourism policy by highlighting the priority of local resources, cultural identity, and community participation as key dimensions.