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.