Bali’s Cultural Identity At Risk Of Being Eroded If Tourism Development Continues 

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Young Balinese academics and entrepreneurs are calling on the authorities to do more to protect the islands cultural and natural heritage against rampant tourism development.

The calls have been echoed by many tourism leader, political figures and Bali lovers who feel that they are watching the island’s fragile cultural identity and ecosystems disappear before their very eyes. 

Balinese architect and tourism observer Kadek Pranajaya, spoke to the Bali Post about his observations of tourism development and how he feels this development has steered away from traditional Balinese values and practices. Essentially, Pranajaya called on leaders to say “don’t sell our Bali without rules.”

One of the leading sources of Pranajaya’s concerns is how rice paddies and landscapes vital to Bali’s subak system are being sold off for tourism and infrastructural developments.

Bali’s subak system is protected by a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as a world heritage site, and even UNESCO officers have spoken out about how current development is threatening this essential environmental and cultural system. 

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Pranajaya shared that he has seen how traditional Balinese building techniques and architectural considerations are being overlooked in many new tourism developments.

He is also concerned that the turnover of agricultural land to tourism and infrastructural developments no only poses environmental issues but also causes job losses for farmers who are now struggling to find work in other sectors or outside of their communities. 

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Pranajaya says that he has seen how many tourism developments, whether hotels, restaurants or attractions are being built in alignment with designs and design principles from outside Bali and outside Indonesia.

As a result, he feels that in many incidences the Bali Architecture Regulations are being violated without consequence. He stated clearly, “We have to collaborate to comb through violations of uncontrolled development.”

Pranayama is calling on the Satpol PP of Bali, the civil service, to enforce legislation more seriously and to get up to speed with all the rules and regulations. Pranajaya said, “They should know not only about green belts but also about architecture.”

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Speaking earlier this week agriculture lecturer from the Dwijendra University in Denpasar, Pande Made Ari Astana Patamarta, revealed how his observations show that ‘naughty investors deliberately closed agricultural irrigation channels to make areas dry.”

He also noted that current discourse on development in Bali is not ‘pro-farmer’ which is creating a host of issues for local communities. 

During a field visit to Jatiluwih Rice Terraces as part of the World Water Forum which was held in Bali from the 18th-25th May, UNESCO officer Xing Qu confirmed that the organisation will be working further with the Indonesian Government to protect Bali’s natural heritage. 

Qu said, “One of [the partnership’s] efforts is to advocate for the protection of cultural heritage related to water in order to overcome the challenges of water problems in the 21st century, all of which are closely related to the Subak context.”

Qu added “We have to reflect back on how humans relate to water and how we have consumed and processed water. We will also release new initiatives in Indonesia to support more sustainable water management.”

Conservation around tourism development is a hot topic among Bali lovers at the moment, especially in light of the construction landslide at the Mirah Development Group construction site in Uluwatu.

The landslide saw much of the ancient limestone cliff face at Pemutih Pecatu Beach crumble away. Pemutih Pecatu Beach is a little-known beach that sits between Uluwatu’s famous Impossibles Beach and Bingin Beach.

An investigation by Badung Regency has found no violations of building licenses or construction permits. 

Bali lovers have also been voicing their concerns and dismay over the resort development in Seseh.

Developers Taryan Group have teamed up with Anantara Hotels to bring to life the Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort, a project that since its inception has been criticised by locals in Bali as having the potential to destroy the natural beauty and cultural charm of Seseh.