Analisis Staged Authenticity Pada Destinasi Wisata Sejarah Kota Medan (Studi Kasus : Istana Maimun)

Abstract

Maimun Palace continues to preserve three forms of Deli Malay culture: ideas (Islamic philosophy and customary values), activities (the Junjung Duli and Tepung Tawar traditions), and artifacts (eclectic architecture and the Pedang Bawar heirloom). However, practices of staged authenticity can be observed through three forms of commodification: apparent commodification (the physical polishing of chairs and the royal throne), actual commodification (the combination of the private residential function of the Sultan’s relatives with souvenir sales), and new commodification (the rental of traditional clothing). This phenomenon creates a dichotomy of authenticity, namely conceptual authenticity among the Sultan’s family and contextual authenticity in tourists’ visual perceptions. Based on the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) theory, Maimun Palace is considered to be in the stagnation stage due to the physical deterioration of the building. Therefore, rejuvenation is needed through attraction innovation and physical revitalization to prevent the destination from entering the decline stage and to avoid the simplification of cultural meanings (cultural flattening).