Exploring Local Heritage, Virtual Reality, and English Speaking Needs to Develop World Heritage Tourism: The Case of Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (OCMHS), Indonesia

The study examines local heritage, virtual reality, and English speaking needs to develop World Heritage tourism with the case study of OCMHS. Recent research shows that tourist visits are low and tourists do not recognize the world heritage tourism. Local heritages around OCMHS and English speaking needs are importantly explored, and Virtual Reality is importantly designed to attract and promote the OCMHS tourism, but the study is still a gap in the literature of tourism study. The objectives are to find out: (a) local heritages around OCMHS which can support the OCMHS tourism, (b) English speaking needs needed by tourism workforce, and (c) a design of Virtual Reality as promotion media. The research applied the approach of ethnography, heritage contestation, and language needs. The study found that there are three types of local heritage which play an important role as the supporting tourist attractions of OCMHS. The local heritage-based tourism attract tourists so much that their existence in the area of OCMHS contributes to the increase of tourists’ visit to OCMHS tourism. The study also yields a map of the heritages with Virtual Reality (VR) which has had the effect in the form of access online by people from different countries. English speaking skill is needed in several levels of needs to interpret the heritages, to provide information on the heritages, local people, and social norms, and to build and maintain social relationship.