Tourism policy impact on transforming religious traditions of <i>Dayak</i> a case study of the <i>Hudoq</i> ceremony tradition of the <i>Dayak Bahau</i> tribe in tourism development, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The rapid growth of tourism in Indonesia has significantly influenced regional development, with cultural heritage, such as the Hudoq ceremony of the Dayak Bahau tribe in East Kalimantan, becoming a key attraction. Once a sacred ritual closely tied to the tribe’s Nugal rice planting and Lamin communal lifestyle, the Hudoq ceremony has been transformed into a commodified tourism spectacle due to modernization and tourism policies. This study employs a phenomenological approach in field observations, incorporating fieldwork from 2009 and 2017, alongside desk research from 2022-2023, using the hermeneutical method for data interpretation. The analysis is framed by Harding et al.’s theory of culture as an open system, Ryan’s commodification analysis, and Suparlan’s concept of selective adaptation. Findings reveal that, while tourism has contributed to the commodification of the ceremony, the Mahakam Ulu Regency’s Hudoq Pekayang Festival has facilitated a balanced reintegration with the Nugal traditions. The Dayak Bahau’s adaptive strategies demonstrate their cultural resilience, highlighting the necessity for tourism policies that prioritize cultural preservation alongside development. These findings suggest that future tourism initiatives should involve local communities more actively in decision-making processes to ensure cultural authenticity and safeguard sacred traditions.