The Development of the Transformation of the Pagaruyung Basa Palace as a Heritage Tourism and its Impact on Cultural Preservation and the Welfare of the Local Community

Abstract

Istano Basa Pagaruyung is located in Batusangkar, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. Founded in the 14th century by Adityawarman in 1347, the palace served as a historical, cultural, and Minangkabau identity symbol for approximately 500 years until its collapse in the 1830s due to war. Experiencing repeated fires, including by the Dutch in 1804 and by lightning in 2007, the palace was reconstructed in 1976 as an open-air museum for the unification of the Minangkabau community after the PRRI conflict, and developed as a heritage tourism destination. The research objectives include analyzing the transformation process into a heritage tourism destination, identifying supporting and inhibiting factors for its development, exploring its role in preserving traditional Minangkabau values, and investigating the social, cultural, and economic impacts on the local community. The method used is a qualitative approach with direct observation, in-depth interviews with informant Mr. Yose, documentation research, and literature from online sources, as well as descriptive analysis to describe the transformation with an ethic of respect for local customs. The research results show that Istano Basa Pagaruyung evolved from the Rajo Tigo Selo government center into a replica museum (1976) after the fire. Meanwhile, the Tanah Datar Tourism Office's development strategy includes online and offline promotions. Although the main challenge is the limited regional budget (APBD), positive impacts include cultural preservation through education, boosting the local economy through free trade and tourist visits, and strengthening Minangkabau identity.