Developed to death<\/p>\n
In 1992 the United Nations Development Program sponsored
\nstudies of tourism in Bali. The studies conducted by teams of
\ninternational and local consultants found that hotel occupancy
\nrates throughout the year averaged at around 50 percent. The
\nstudies also exploded some of the myths about the local benefits
\nof tourism.<\/p>\n
Sure, some of the exquisite paradises, like the Aman chain are
\ngenerally full, but they are gems in a sea of dross. The
\neconomist in the teams with their eyes full of dollars and
\ncomputer models tried to talk up tourism as economists do. Theirs
\nis not the world of subtle reality, sacredness (unless it has a
\ndollar value) and human choice.<\/p>\n
In 1995 more hotel development is scarring the landscape of
\nBali. The development sheep are ensuring that what was once a
\ndivine landscape will soon become a tropical Torremolinos. If you
\ndoubt that simply take a look at the macabre Mata Hari Center and
\nadjacent hotel complex in Kuta, the worst kind of commercial
\nvulgarity.<\/p>\n
So the traders ask: Kenapa orang Barat tidak mau ke sini
\nsekarang? (Why aren't western tourists coming here now?). I could
\nsay that the number of (Western) tourists will continue to drop
\nin direct relationship to the scale of ravaged landscape. Yes the
\n\"White Trash\" will continue to haunt Kuta with their absurd green
\nnoses and tattoos and yes, herds of Japanese and Koreans will
\narrive by the increasing busload blinking into the harsh sun, but
\nthese tourists could be anywhere. They simply want cold beer, air
\nconditioning, karaoke and beaches. Asian tourists more than
\nanyone like the comfort of large hotels, ensuring that less money
\nmade from tourism in Bali goes to the people but disappears into
\nthe coffers of those outsiders who own the large fields. In the
\nmeantime the Balinese lose their land, their temples and become
\nserfs to tourism.<\/p>\n
And there is nub of the \"phallusy\" of development. More is not
\nbetter, nor is it economically wise, nor does it necessarily
\nbenefit the people. In fact it can positively do harm. This is
\nthe male dominated edifice complex model of development we are
\nseeing in Bali.<\/p>\n
Many years ago, an author titled his book Developed to Death.
\nThis could appropriately be Bali's obituary. When the world first
\ndiscovered Bali it stood alone as the ubiquitous island paradise.
\nNow places like Mustique, the South Pacific and Mauritius call.
\nThey have preserved the landscape and have indulged their greed
\nby focusing on exclusivity. Greed has turned Bali in a tourist K
\nMart.<\/p>\n
MELODY KEMP<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/developed-to-death-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }