THE IMPACT OF ENGLISH TRANSLATION QUALITY ON CULTURAL ECONOMY: A LITERATURE REVIEW OF YOGYAKARTA’S HERITAGE TOURISM

Abstract

Yogyakarta is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, which serves as a vital pillar of the local cultural economy, especially following the UNESCO (2023) recognition of its Cosmological Axis. In the era of global tourism, the effective communication of this heritage to international audiences is heavily dependent on the quality of English translations. However, linguistic inaccuracies in tourism materials often hinder global branding and create a “trust deficit” among international visitors. Using a literature review, this research synthesizes 17 key sources (comprising 14 primary academic articles and 3 key international frameworks), including targeted academic articles and global frameworks from UNWTO and UNESCO. The findings suggest that professional and culturally nuanced translations significantly improve international tourists’ trust, acting as a “new currency” in the digital economy which directly correlates with increased economic empowerment for local communities. The study concludes that investment in high-quality translation is not merely a linguistic necessity but a strategic economic move to ensure sustainable growth in the fragmented global economy.