When Political Will Fades: Policy Discontinuity and Tourism Stagnation on Rupat Island, Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to analyze the causes behind the abrupt stagnation of a oncepromising tourism development project on Rupat Island, Indonesia. It investigates how a shift in local political leadership triggered a significant policy discontinuity, halting progress despite the island's status as a national strategic tourism area. The study employs a qualitative, single-case study design. It draws on rich empirical evidence from multiple sources, including official government planning and budgetary documents (The Regional Medium-Term Development Plan/RPJMD and Government Agency Performance Reports/LAKIP), in-depth interviews with key local stakeholders (government officials and business owners), and direct field observations conducted over several years. The findings reveal a two-act drama. First, a period of rapid development (2010-2015) was driven by a powerful 'policy entrepreneur'—the incumbent regent—who championed the project and allocated significant resources. Second, an abrupt stagnation occurred post-2015, triggered by a change in leadership. The new administration abandoned the project, demonstrating a classic case of policy discontinuity. The root cause was the failure to institutionalize the development policy, leaving it entirely dependent on the political fortunes of its initial champion.