Digital Business Prospects in The Symptoms of Shadow Economy Tourism Industry of Gorontalo Province
Herwin Mopangga- Heldy Vanni Alam- Idris Yanto Niode

State University of Gorontalo

Abstract

This paper discusses the prospect of digital business in the midst of the shadow economy of the tourism industry in Gorontalo Province. Tourism is a priority sector that is expected to be able to accelerate the transformation of the local economy. Phenomenological qualitative research with big data in the form of online reviews of cross-country tourists about types of businesses, products and tourist destinations for 2015-2020 accessed from tripadvisor.com. Content and sentiment analysis to identify the shadow economy characteristics of tourism while interviews and FGDs with local informants to capture prospective digital businesses in Gorontalo Province. The results of the study conclude that the existence of the shadow economy hinders tourism, because although it is able to create jobs and income, it is only micro-individual and short-term. In the long term and in the macro-collective space, the shadow economy is detrimental and has the potential to damage the local tourism industry. The shadow economy category includes labor, price rate, environmental exploitation and safety and security. Fashion, personal care, processed food and culinary and traditional crafts dominate e-commerce transactions in Gorontalo although non-cash transactions did not increase significantly. Digital business with the power of online control can minimize shadow economy practices while reviving the tourism industry, which had been affected by COVID-19. Further research is suggested to issued policy recommendations to minimized tourism shadow economy and strengthen digital business on the scope of national, regional and international

Keywords: shadow- economy- tourism- local- digital

Topic: The Acceleration of Link and Match Between Industry and Higher Education