Balinese sociocultural values at stake<\/p>\n
By Winarta Adisubrata<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): This paper on April 26 ran an article on the
\nrapid changes in Bali brought on by tourism.<\/p>\n
The article, based on a seminar, quoted Udayana University
\nprofessor Ida Bagus Adnyana Manuaba as saying that a large
\nportion of Bali's revenues from the tourism sector will be lost
\nif the island's social settings and cultural traditions are
\nforced to change.<\/p>\n
The seminar was jointly organized by The Bali Post and the
\nKresna Naradha Foundation.<\/p>\n
The staggering increase in tourism was reflected in the
\nsector's 30.5 percent contribution to local revenues in 1994, up
\nfrom 17.4 percent in 1988. On the other hand, the contribution of
\nthe agricultural sector dropped from 37.4 percent in 1988 to 21.3
\npercent in 1994.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, I Gde Sudibya from the Kuturan Dharma Budaya
\nFoundation was quoted as saying that \"investors must be careful
\nbecause increasing competition in the tourism and handicraft
\nindustries seems to be resulting in excess supply\".<\/p>\n
Sudibya, however, did not mention the possible negative
\neffects of tourism on the Balinese.<\/p>\n
In the same edition, The Jakarta Post published a news item in
\nthe \"Across the Archipelago\" column. It quoted John Hopson, an
\nAustralian tour operator, as saying that many tourists from his
\ncountry canceled their trips to Bali and instead went to Penang,
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
The paper quoted him as saying: \"The vendors (in Bali)
\nsometimes use rude words and intimidation to make the tourists
\nbuy\".<\/p>\n
Recent media reports on tourism in Bali have left observers
\nvery much apprehensive. Being one of the front guards in tourism
\nand cultural resilience, the predominantly Hindu island is also
\nrecognized as a unique community.<\/p>\n
Even a layman can see that the last bastion of Hinduism in
\nIndonesia is likely to be swept away by modernity and the
\nnegative effects of tourism and the electronic media.<\/p>\n
Safety and security are now a source of concern, as is the
\nstaggering number of abortions among the younger Balinese, which
\nreached 3,000 in 1995. This is an alarming situation never before
\nexperienced by the Balinese.<\/p>\n
The number of venereal disease and AIDS patients has also
\nrisen significantly. One suspects that the increase is linked to
\ndrug deals conducted mostly by foreign backpackers flocking
\naround Kuta Beach, the majority of whom are Australian.<\/p>\n
In other developing countries, tourism has been blamed for
\nincreases in crime rates, drug abuse and the spread of AIDS.<\/p>\n
The recent imbroglio over beer levies only underlined the
\nheavy consumption of the drink by visitors. This undoubtedly
\ninfluences the behavior of local youngsters, who eagerly copy the
\nway foreigners dress and the way they eat and drink.<\/p>\n
It is safe to say that tourism has changed the way of life of
\nthe locals in return for a better standard of living, but the
\nsociocultural values of the Balinese are now at stake.<\/p>\n
Bali has always been known as the safest place in Indonesia, a
\ncondition linked to their Hindu religion, but after more than
\nthree decades of booming tourism, this attribute has come into
\nquestion.<\/p>\n
Like the pop song Kembalikan Baliku Kepadaku (Return my Bali
\nto me), it is time to address these social illnesses before they
\nspread to other islands in the vicinity.<\/p>\n
The writer is an observer of tourism affairs.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/balinese-sociocultural-values-at-stake-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }