Bali Government Tourism Office in 2009 will develop some villages in Bali into integrated tourism village by applying the concept from, by and for local community. One of the villages under development for the purpose, having passed through a workshop involving academician circle, is Bayung Gede village in Bangli Regency.
Division Head of Research and Development, Bali Government Tourism Office, Ketut Naria said in years to come such tourism villages would be integrated and managed through the principle from, by and for the community. “In other words, the tourism village concept should include agrotourism, and ecotourism managed by the community and the profit obtained is intended for the community. Actually, this is the concept of community-based tourism. However, its real implementation in the field is unclear yet to me,” Naria told Bali Travel News at his office not long ago. He also added that the principle of from, by and for the community in fact did not work. “Even, most benefits and profits were taken out. The concept of tourism village should also provide accommodation and other convenient and appropriate facilities because tourists spend their night at the village,” he said.
This year, Naria said, the Bali Government Tourism Office does not only initiate the Bayung Gede as tourism village, but there are also some other villages that will be developed into agrotourism and ecotourism village. “Candi Kuning will be prepared to become agrotourism village and Sambangan become ecotourism village,” he said.
The whole management will be directly integrated and managed by local community. By this concept, tourists will get involved in person with daily activities of local community like gardening, picking fruit, planting and also cultural activities such as dancing, playing gamelan preparing local food in coincidence with wedding party and others.
When has been designed from the beginning and armed with good commitment, the development of tourism village will give multiplier effect. “In this matter, government only takes the role to mediate, advocate and build the network,” he said.
It is also expected; the tourism village development would become attractive and be necessary to make a program and package in cooperation with travel agent. For example, on the first day tourists are proceeded to have tracking and on the second day is cycling. Meanwhile, the next program is to invite them to participate in person in the activity of local community and the last program offers yoga and meditation at the village. “These are good programs for tourists when they stay at village,” he added
Source:Bali Travel News
