Concepts of tourism development in Bali
Concepts of tourism development in Bali
Tri Budhi Sastrio
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): If developed appropriately, tourism can
benefit host communities and tourists alike.
The development of infrastructure and supporting facilities
will lift the living standards of host communities through the
economic gains brought to that area.
Ideally, tourism should be developed based on the area's
cultural, historical and social background.
Such a development plan will maintain the characteristics and
uniqueness of each tourist destination, which will, in turn,
attract visitors to that place.
In order to maximize profits and to minimize problems of
tourism development, a well-planned concept is badly required.
There are three kinds of tourism-development concepts.
The first concept involves a large-scale investor who develops
and totally changes an area into a new tourist area.
The concept may also transform local cultures and lifestyles
into different ones.
In the past, many investors adopted such a concept and drew
bitter criticism from local community, cultural circles,
religious leaders and environmentalists.
Today, no investor would dare to openly adopt this concept,
although in practice many violations still occur.
The second concept deals with a community-based tourism-
development plan. The concept may involve small and medium
investors in developing tourism objects and facilities in line
with the existing cultural and material resources.
But, only a few investors are willing to take part in such
tourism development projects because they are reluctant to mingle
with the involved community and to adjust to its culture and
lifestyle.
The third concept is a compromise concept like that applied in
the development of Pecatu Indah Resort in Jimbaran, Bali.
Nyoman Gelebet, considered the initiator of this concept, said
the Pecatu Indah Resort project was a large-scale one.
As a cultural advisor of a consultant team for this project,
he said that the Pecatu project covered more than 650 hectares of
land and a two-kilometer beach area.
The implementation of the project had caused concern among the
locals. Many people questioned the motivation behind the
development of this resort. They felt concern that the large-
scale project might cause social, cultural and environmental
problems.
The Bali provincial government, which always claims to
safeguard Bali from potential harm, had given the green light and
provided the investor with the necessary permits to develop the
Pecatu resort.
The investor had asserted it adopted a compromise concept in
developing the resort.
The implementation of the project, which involves various
consultants and cultural advisor, started with the "purchase" of
land from the locals.
The investor stated that the resort would actually cover the
"borrowed" plot of land. During the building of the resort, local
residents would be moved temporarily to neighboring villages.
After the project is finished, they are allowed to reside in
the newly developed areas and maintain their traditional
lifestyles.
It has emerged as the most appropriate tourism development
concept -- blending modernity and traditions, preserving art and
cultures and protecting the environment.
The concept, if applied correctly, is likely to preserve
social and cultural assets of any site in Bali developed as a
tourist location.
In reality, it is hard to implement a tourist development
project based on such a concept.
It will be difficult to guarantee that investors, consultants
keep their promises once the project is completed.
The local government usually does little to help victims of
development regain their property rights. The most affected
parties, the locals, are often in a very vulnerable position
since they never sign any written agreement with investors.
It is expected that in the future, the provincial government
will protect the interest of the local communities, their
properties, the island of Bali and its precious cultural assets.
The writer is on the teaching Staff of Dr. Soetomo University
in Surabaya, East Java, and a Phd candidate from Udayana
University, Denpasar.