Representation Of Indonesian Tourism Space On Social Media: A Study Of The Distribution Patterns And Digital Narrative Of #Wonderfulindonesia Hashtags On Platform X
Keywords:
Virtual Geography, Spatial Representation, #WonderfulIndonesia
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the representation of Indonesian tourism spaces in digital discourse through the #WonderfulIndonesia hashtag on the X platform by examining spatial distribution patterns, narrative themes, temporal dynamics, and user engagement. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed. Data were collected through manual crawling on X using Google Colaboratory, Python, and the snscrape library, focusing on public posts containing #WonderfulIndonesia between April 1, 2024 and May 1, 2025. The dataset included posting time, text, user or post location, media, usernames, and post links. Data analysis involved filtering, grouping by location and theme, and thematic analysis of narratives. The findings indicate that digital representations of tourism spaces are concentrated in popular destinations, particularly Yogyakarta, Bandung, Jakarta, and Lumajang, while several attractive destinations receive more limited exposure. Dominant narratives include local nature tourism, culture and culinary experiences, religious and cultural events, nostalgia, healing, domestic exploration, and national pride. Posting activity increases during weekends, national holidays, and tourism events. Although user engagement is low, the hashtag functions as a communication node connecting institutional actors and the public in constructing Indonesia’s tourism image. The findings show that social media produces spatial representations that influence destination visibility and support inclusive tourism promotion strategies.
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Borobudur. (2025, January 23). The Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, launched the Clean Tourism Movement (GWB) at Parangtritis Beach, Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFKDAYLzPIq/
Boyd, D., & Crawford, K. (2012). Critical questions for Big Data: Provocations for a cultural, technological, and scholarly phenomenon. Information, Communication, & Society, 15(5), 662–669.
Bruns, A., & Burgess, J. (2015). Twitter hashtags from ad hoc to calculated publics. In N. Rambukkana (Ed.), Hashtag publics: The power and politics of discursive networks (Digital Formations, Vol. 103, pp. 13–27). Peter Lang Publishing.
Chotijah, S. (2020). The brand reputation of "Wonderful Indonesia" during the Covid-19 Pandemic. JCommsci: Journal of Media and Communication Science, 3(Special Issue), 19–25.
Ernawati, H., & Hananto, K. (2023). Digital tourism: Future research perspectives and agendas. Tourism: Scientific Journal, 17(2), 144–156. https://ejournal.stipram.ac.id/index.php/kepariwisataan/article/download/215/178
Fauzia, N., Sumarniningsih, & Abida, F. I. N. (2022). Digital Narrative Text as a Promotional Media for Archipelago Tourism. Scientific Journal of Hospitality Management, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.22334/jihm.v13i1.233
Garcia Henche, B. (2021). Urban experiential tourism marketing. Journal of Tourism Analysis, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.53596/jta.v25i1.334
Goodchild, M. F. (2007). Citizens as sensors: the world of volunteered geography. GeoJournal, 69(4), 211–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9111-y
Goodchild, M. F., & Li, L. (2012). Assuring the quality of volunteered geographic information. Spatial Statistics, 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2012.03.002
Graham, M., & Shelton, T. (2013). Geography and the future of big data, big data and the future of geography. Dialogues in Human Geography, 3(3), 255–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043820613513121
Ichsan, R. N., Laratmase, P., Novedliani, R., Utami, E. Y., & Mahmudin, T. (2024). Destination digitalization as a strategy for developing tourism promotion in Indonesia. Edunomic, 8(2), 1–13. https://jurnal.stie-aas.ac.id/index.php/jie/article/download/13318/pdf/42640
Kitchin, R. (2014). The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures & Their Consequences. In The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures & Their Consequences. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473909472
Martí, P., Serrano-Estrada, L., & Nolasco-Cirugeda, A. (2019). Social Media data: Challenges, opportunities and limitations in urban studies. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 74, 161–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2018.11.001
MediaIndonesia. (2024, March 2). Monas Tourism, an icon of the city of Jakarta that offers many attractions. Travelista Media Indonesia. https://mediaindonesia.com/travelista/655918/monas
Novilia, B. L., & Gustaman, F. A. (2024). The role of social media as a medium of interaction and development of Lokananta Cultural Tourism in the City of Surakarta. Tourism: Scientific Journal, 18(2), 172–184.
Osborne, T., & Jones, P. (2022). Embodied virtual geographies: Linkages between bodies, spaces, and digital environments. Geography Compass, 16(6), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12648
Prasetyo, H., Irawati, N., & Satriawati, Z. (n.d.). TOWARDS A DIGITAL TOURIST DESTINATION Transformation, Literacy, and Innovation. www.freepik.com
Putri, M. R. (2022). The influence of social media on the decision of tourists to visit tourist attractions in Pekanbaru City, Riau Province [Thesis, Islma University Riau]. https://repository.uir.ac.id/11065/1/173410084.pdf
Rose, Gillian. (2016). Visual methodologies : An introduction to the interpretation of visual materials (R. Rojek, Ed.; 4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Samala, N., Katkam, B. S., Bellamkonda, R. S., & Rodriguez, R. V. (2022). Impact of AI and robotics in the tourism sector: a critical insight. Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-07-2019-0065
Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia. (2017, December 27). Pesona Indonesia/wonderful Indonesia: The inspiration behind the Indonesian tourism brand. Secretariat of the Cabinet of the Republic of Indonesia.
Shelton, T., Poorthuis, A., & Zook, M. (2015). Social media and the city: Rethinking urban socio-spatial inequality using user-generated geographic information. Landscape and Urban Planning, 142, 198–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.02.020
Woodpecker, D. (2015). Book Review: The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures and their Consequences. Media, Culture & Society, 37(7). https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443715596318
Sufi, & Sabri, J. (2020). The realization of the tourism industry 4.0 through the implementation of digital tourism in Lhokseumawe City. Journal of Social and Political Sciences Malikussaleh (JSPM), 1(1), 79–96. http://bit.ly/voteaceh
Ullaeli, S., Maulana, H., Wati, L., Sari, A. F., & Andayani, L. (2024). The impact of social media on the image of tourist destinations. Multiple: Journal of Global and Multidisciplinary, 2(12), 4077–4085. https://journal.institercom-edu.org/index.php/multiple
Urry, J., & Larsen, J. (2011). The tourist gaze 3.0. In The Tourist Gaze 3.0. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446251904
Journalism. (2025, June 12). Borobudur Temple: Indonesia's world heritage and leading tourism destination. Innovation News. https://wartainovasi.net/candi-borobudur-warisan-dunia-dan-destinasi-pariwisata-unggulan-indonesia/
Wibowo, W., Choiri, A., Panggabean, N. A., Fatiha, N., & Irfaniah, N. R. (2025). Instagramable tourism: An analysis of the impact of destination visualization in the social media era. TOBA (Journal of Tourism, Hospitality, and Destination), 4(2), 111–119. https://doi.org/10.55123/toba.v4i2.5383
Yudithadewi, D. (2020). Indonesian Charm as a Nation Image: A Cultural Semiotic Study of the Nation Branding "Wonderful Indonesia" [Thesis, Paramadina University]. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354997704
Zhang, G. (2021). Volunteer Geographic Information. Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge, 2021(Q1). https://doi.org/10.22224/gistbok/2021.1.1
Zook, M., Graham, M., Shelton, T., & Gorman, S. (2010). Volunteered Geographic Information and Crowdsourcing Disaster Relief: A Case Study of the Haitian Earthquake. World Medical & Health Policy, 2(2), 7–33. https://doi.org/10.2202/1948-4682.1069
Published
2026-08-29
How to Cite
M. Hanif Pratama, Bambang Syaeful Hadi, Hastuti, & Rahmat Hidayat. (2026). Representation Of Indonesian Tourism Space On Social Media: A Study Of The Distribution Patterns And Digital Narrative Of #Wonderfulindonesia Hashtags On Platform X. International Journal of Education, Vocational and Social Science , 5(03), 9219-9233. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i03.6310
Contact Person +6282139474255
Email : ijevss@citakonsultindo.or.id / editor.ijevss@gmail.com
