Undiksha develops digital transformation for Penglipuran Tourism Village

Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha) Singaraja, Bali is developing a digital transformation for Penglipuran Tourism Village in Bangli Regency, featuring a Smart Sustainable Edutourism concept based on Augmented Reality (AR). The innovation, currently being finalised, is designed to deliver a more interactive educational tourism experience whilst reinforcing efforts to preserve local culture, according to the Head of the Undiksha Research Team, Prof. Dr. I Wayan Lasmawan. The digital transformation development is part of the Bestari Saintek Programme funded by the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP). The research team from Bali’s largest educational institution has now entered the system refinement stage ahead of field implementation and trials. Lasmawan added that AR technology is being utilised to enrich the tourism experience by presenting digital information integrated with real objects. Tourists will simply need to scan a QR Code or access specific location points via their smartphones to obtain information in the form of three-dimensional (3D) models, animations, historical narratives, audio, video, and explanations about the culture and local wisdom inherent in each tourist attraction. ‘Through this technology, tourists are not just visiting, but also gaining a more interactive learning experience about the history, traditional architecture, philosophy, and living cultural values of Penglipuran Village. We want to present a destination management model capable of integrating digital innovation with sustainable cultural preservation,’ he said. Research team member I Wayan Pardi explained that the platform includes QR markers on cultural objects, a visitor density monitoring dashboard, an interactive tourism map, a digital catalogue for micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) based on cultural narratives, and digital educational media supporting destination interpretation. ‘All features are designed to support more effective destination management while improving the quality of information services for tourists,’ he explained. Meanwhile, General Manager of Penglipuran Tourism Village Management, I Wayan Sumiarsa, welcomed the innovation developed by Undiksha. He stated that the Smart Sustainable Edutourism concept aligns with the development direction of Penglipuran Tourism Village, which prioritises a balance between technology utilisation and cultural preservation. ‘This system has great potential to enhance the tourist experience while assisting managers in making data-driven decisions. We hope its implementation will further strengthen Penglipuran’s competitiveness as a world-class cultural tourism destination,’ he said.