From knowledge to narrative: exploring the art and techniques of heritage interpretation in Indonesia

This thesis investigates how Indonesian tour guides craft and deliver heritage narratives andshows that interpretation is a fundamentally social, co-produced process in which interpretiveauthority is continually negotiated. Using a qualitative, social-constructivist design, the studydraws on semi-structured interviews with 36 guides and trainers across Jakarta, Bandung, andYogyakarta, alongside document analysis. Findings indicate that competence in interpretationdevelops less through formal certification than through ongoing collective practice: peerexchange, mentoring, and sustained engagement with communities and sites. Within this socialcontext, authority is not fixed in credentials or scripts; it is performed and redistributed throughdialogue with peers, collaborative sourcing and verification of stories, sensitivity to localprotocols and permissions, and careful handling of contested or painful histories. The thesisidentifies narrative techniques such as clear thematic framing, purposeful sequencing,interactive questioning, and attentive use of sensory cues that enhance understanding, recall,and ethical awareness of provenance and consent. Conceptually, the study positions guides asactive cultural mediators whose legitimacy arises from how they assemble, justify, and shareknowledge with others on the ground. Practically, it recommends training programmes thatinstitutionalise mentoring, reflective debriefs, and community partnerships alongside ethicsand safety, thereby supporting context-sensitive, credible interpretation and more sustainableheritage tourism in Indonesia.