Economics and Tourism as Agents of Global Connection: Garut Mid-19th Century to Mid20th Century

Abstract

The beauty of Garut has been tempting many tourists to enjoy it since the early 20th century. Tourists who visit not only come from within but also from abroad. Studies on tourism in Garut have not received much attention. Scholars usually take Garut as a place of research; the topics discussed are related to social movements during the Dutch and Post-Independence periods. In Christian mission activities, there are multiple motives or impure motives. One of which is romantic motives, namely motives driven by the desire to go to distant and exotic lands and nations. So not infrequently, the mission staff are also interested in recording the tourism sector. This research will focus on examining Garut's economic and tourism development and Global connections in the zending Nederlandsche Zendingsvereeniging (NZV) records. This study uses the historical method using observation and secondary data, consisting of four stages: Heuristics, Critique of Interpretation, and Historiography. The study results stated that Garut made many foreigners live in this region. The progress of transportation built by the Dutch East Indies government had opened the door for tourism development in Garut. The natural beauty of Garut has invited many tourists to visit this area. This tourist visit has grown the new business in the Garut area, namely the construction of various tourism facilities such as hotels, tourism agents, and books containing tourism information in Garut. The following discussion and managerial implications are identified based on empirical findings.