Rethinking heritage tourism after COVID-19: Host–tourist perspectives from highland and coastal Aceh

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected life of human being, including tourism and the conservation of cultural heritage sites. Thus, this study aims to explore the perspectives of host communities and tourist regarding tourism activities and heritage conservation during the pandemic. This study used observation strategies and interviewed 151 host and tourist in the highland city of Aceh and 160 in west-coast city of Aceh. The study argues that the pandemic has led to a surge in interest in smaller city, especially in outdoor and religious tourism because travellers seek safer, open-air experiences and religious contemplations. Smaller cities receive influx of tourist from bigger cities like Banda Aceh due to provincial boarder restriction and bigger cities implemented tighter level of pandemic mobility restriction. Consequently, the surge has also increased the awareness for heritage conservation. During and post-pandemic era, host communities have been concerned about balancing continuity of cultural and spiritual, public health with the economic benefits; while tourist have expressed a heightened appreciation for nature, religious, personal safety, and culture and the need for the new attractions and health protection. Thus, the pandemic should be understood not merely as a disruption but as a transformative moment that reconfigures the relationships between tourism, religion, and heritage conservation.