Bali tourism development should be based on local culture: Ardhika
Bali tourism development should be based on local culture: Ardhika
DENPASAR, Bali (Antara): The development of tourism in Bali
must be based on the life and culture of the locals and it could
imitate the subak system, said Minister of Culture and Tourism I
Gede Ardhika.
Subak is a traditional irrigation system which has been
employed for centuries, providing a very effective means for
controlling water distribution to rice fields.
Ardhika added that subak is highly valued in Balinese society.
The concept of subak involves rice farmers in a village who
have adjacent rice fields that share a common water supply.
By nature, the farmers have been forced to work together
because of the island's dry climate. Its geographical features,
including vast mountainous regions and elevated terrain, make it
impossible for an individual to irrigate for his own fields
single-handedly.
Therefore, everyone owning land within the subak area are
required to become members. By involving the entire community,
farmers are able to cooperate in finding water sources and then
tapping them to ensure delivery to all of their fields
collectively.
Initially, subak was only applied to irrigation matters,
but later the collective system began making decisions about
almost all matters pertaining to: dates of planting and
harvesting; appropriate times for an offering, and the form of
the offering; ceremonies to be held; cleaning and repair of water
canals; proper times for fertilizing and using insecticides, as
well as the amount to be used; and where to procure seed for the
crops.
Tourism, the minister said, is still new to the Balinese
community, while the subak method of organization has been
existing for many generations.
"It will be better if we could apply subak patterns in
developing the tourism industry on the island to involve the
whole community," Ardhika suggested.
Current tourism developments in Bali only favor certain groups
of people, he said, explaining that the majority of Balinese
people gain little from the industry.
"It is not too late to rearrange the island's tourism industry
because it will be a long-term plan which should benefit all
Balinese people," he added.
Ardhika said he would like to invite all sectors of the
Balinese community including scholars, prominent figures from the
tourism industry and academics to establish a joint forum in
order to formulate a new tourism plan.
Wayan Geria, senior lecturer at the University of Udayana's
Letters Faculty, agreed that the idea to apply the subak system
may be appropriate.
However, Wayan added, such a new plan must be comprehensively
discussed by all related parties, including traditional village
chiefs and small-scale entrepreneurs.
Artist Nyoman Rudana, owner of the Rudana Museum, agreed with
the concept, saying that it was high time for Balinese people to
be involved in policies regarding tourism.