Managing Canggu As A Tourist Village Could Help Keep Culture Alive In Top Bali Resort

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Local political leaders in Bali’s Badung Regency have met to discuss the opportunity to develop tourism villages in the Canggu area of the regency.

Canggu has undergone a rapid tourism boom in the last seven years, and local leaders want to preserve the culture and heritage landscapes. 

The ex-Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, proposed that the Traditional Village of Canggu should become a formal tourism village and be managed as such moving forward.

He feels this will help the Traditional Village Council access more funding to preserve the cultural and natural landscape in the area. 

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Pastika was joined by the Head of the Canggu Traditional Village, I Wayan Suarsana, and the Director of Baga Utsaha Padruwen Traditional Village in Canggu, Ni Kadek Dwi Indah Paramita.

Pastika acknowledged that the development of Canggu into the tourism destination that it is today has brought many benefits; however, he wants to see the situation improve further to ensure sustainability and provide good living conditions for local residents. 

Pastika said, “There are a lot of provincial assets here. If these assets can be managed well, then the province will be very rich. During this time, I want the provincial government to be able to make a living from managing these assets.”

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Some of the assets he was referring to, as he clarified, are the rice paddies around Canggu.

He noted that these remaining patches of agricultural land are important for food production and are a natural feature that breaks up the tourism resort. 

The Director of Baga Utsaha Padruwen (BUPDA) Traditional Village in Canggu, Ni Kadek Dwi Indah Paramita, explained that since its inception in 2022, it has generated profits of IDR 1.9 billion from businesses like shops, beach vendors, surfing schools, etc. who had paid village taxes. 

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The next topic on the agenda was waste management, an issue all too close to home in Canggu.

The Head of Canggu Traditional Village, I Wayan Suarsana, said that he and his teams have identified land that could become a major waste processing facility. He noted that local banjars have also started a waste bank. 

Suarsana said “there are even entrepreneurs who want to help process waste and make Canggu a pilot area. However, we have a problem with land so we hope to be able to utilise land belonging to the Bali Provincial Government.

Previously we have even submitted a request directly to the Governor of Bali Wayan Koster.”

He saved that the Village Credit Institution (LPD) of Canggu, which is made up of seven local hamlets and 1200 families, has assets of IDR 750 in the bank and is generating around IDR 7 billion a year. 

Suarsana said “we are planning that the traditional village income can reach IDR 10 billion per year so that one day we can buy assets to be managed by the village with the aim of improving the resident’s economic situations.”

Canggu’s rapid development has seen the once quiet fishing community become a hidden gem for surfers and backpackers, then a quiet haven for long term expats and now a booming tourism resort home to the world’s biggest beach club; Atlas Beach Club. 

In 2024 and beyond, Bali is on a mission to establish more sustainable and culturally respectful tourism.

Many may feel that in Canggu, this may be a hard feat to pull off since it’s been observed that much of the tourism development in the area has not shown much regard for preserving the natural landscape or local culture.

For many people seeking a real nature and cultural immersion in Bali, Canggu has become an area to avoid.

However, it is certainly the place to be for those seeking a beachside vacation with access to world-renowned beach clubs, fine dining, independent shops, and bars.