0 Bali tourism chief looks at specialized tourism

Bali’s top tourism official says he wants to promote special tourism packages for ecological, spiritual and village tourism as well as meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) travelers. Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu, head of the Bali Tourism Agency, told Bali Daily on Friday that the Island of the Gods was rich in natural, cultural and spiritual potential that could be used attract more visitors to Bali. “There are many visitors who want to enjoy specialized tourism, such as adventure and spiritual tourism,” Subhiksu said. 

“They are very passionate about it. They’re loyal and frequent visitors for such activities,” Subhiksu said. He said that local administrations and the private sector should work together to develop specialized tourism packages in line with their natural and cultural assets. Regional administrations, he added, “do not have to replicate similar tourism activities currently adopted and operated by the hospitality and tourism industry in the southern part of Bali.” 

Badung Regent AA Gde Agung said that his regency — which includes popular tourist destinations such as Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Benoa — has been cultivating MICE travel by developing star-rated hotels and convention venues. The regency is the wealthiest in Bali and is home to more than 80 percent of the island’s tourist accommodations and attractions. Badung has frequently hosted world-class conferences and meetings that have attracted international leaders and artists. 

For example, the regency will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit at the Nusa Dua Resort in November. US President Barack Obama is one of a host of world leaders slated to attend. “Badung actually possess a tremendous natural and cultural heritage,” said the regent, who is also the head of the Mengwi royal family. Agung said that the northern part of the regency, such as in Petang, Sangeh and Mambal, was home to lush forests, rice fields, plantations, waterfalls, rivers and forest reserves. 

“We are now planning on developing community and agro-tourism in several villages in the north,” Agung added. Similarly, I Wayan Geredeg, the regent of Karangasem in eastern Bali, said he already had a plan to transform the regency into a heritage site. Once the center of the kingdom of Bali, Karangasem is filled with historical sites — something that was recognized by central government in December when it declared the regency one of the nation’s 10 most important heritage sites. 

“There is a perfect opportunity to develop heritage and spiritual tourism here in Karangasem,” Geredeg said. Karangasem is home to the island’s most sacred temple, Besakih, and Mount Agung, which symbolize the center of the universe for Balinese Hindus. Buleleng Regent Putu Agus Suradnyana was wary, saying that he would not let Buleleng grow into a massive tourism site. “Under my tenure, I hope that the administration can control the development of tourism accommodations and supporting facilities. 

We are strongly committed to developing community and village-based tourism.” “We will be very selective in attracting investors in the tourism sector. We will only allow those who want to develop eco-tourism and community-based tourism,” he added. Subhiksu echoed Suradnyana’s comments. “Developing specialized tourism will in the end create sustainable activities.”

source : bali daily