Becak Wisata: the Innovation of a Traditional Transportation Mode in Supporting Urban Tourism

Abstract

How informal sector creates innovation in gaining competition is very important in urban management. Commonly, informal sectors are embedded in their routines and lack of innovation capacities. Based on the case of becak wisata in Yogyakarta, it was found that as informal sector in tourism activity, the becak wisata drivers have created product innovation. This street level of innovation is mainly done by seeing the tourists as the potential demand/profitable customers. They have created innovation on physical performance of the pedicab, the capacity of pedicab to serve the tourists, and the union as the organization of the becak wisata. Furthermore the “becak wisata” has transformed not only as a transportation mode but also as one of tourism attraction. This product innovation is also supported by process innovation through networking with formal sector such as government agencies and hotel.