Creativity is at the very heart of Balinese culture. From paintings to woodwork, stone carvings to dance, creativity can be found in every inch of this island.
The arrival of tourism more than one hundred years ago meant that creativity itself evolved into innovation and entrepreneurialism in new ways.
The Bali of today is home to lavish and established hotel resorts, attractions, and international-grade tourism infrastructure, but that wasn’t always the case.
Back in the day, all of Bali’s tourism offerings were homemade. Real, authentic hospitality. Families build small B&B-style rooms within their homes and gardens, and others create small tourist-friendly warungs, or local-style eateries, that cater to foreigners’ tastes.
Even in 2026, these kinds of homemade tourist attractions, accommodations, and cafes can be found all over the island, if you know where to look.
These homemade, locally founded, funded, and operated tourism businesses may not have the backing of international investment or even support from the banks, but that is why we must all show our support. Here at The Bali Sun, we love supporting local businesses, and Sayan Point is a prime example of this kind of project.
The founder of Sayan Point, in Sayan Village just outside of Ubud, is Wayan Sukarma. Sayan Point is a restaurant and coffee bar with a pool and sunset spot. The tourist hotspot was built by the local community to make the most of the stunning views over Sayan.
Sukarma is a Sayan Village resident who has been involved in the hotel industry for decades. Before opening Sayan Point, Sukarma worked for 20 years at the Four Seasons Sayan.
His extensive experience in the hospitality sector provided him with the necessary skills to develop this locally-based business. Together with his wife, who also has a lengthy career in hospitality, he decided to utilize the land he owned to create an interesting retirement.
Amidst the fierce competition in the Ubud tourism industry, Sayan Point has managed to attract tourists thanks to its natural views overlooking the valley and the Ayung River. Speaking to reporters this week, Sukarma shared that construction of Sayan Point began in 2019 with humble beginnings.
All plans were thrown in the air as preparations were nearing completion and the business was about to begin welcoming visitors, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, closing the island for tourism for over a year.
He explained, “We started operating at the same time as the pandemic. We had to survive for two to three years before tourism finally recovered.”
Sukarma explained that before being developed into a tourist attraction, the land on which Sayan Point is built was part of a family residence.
Seeing the potential in the panoramic views and lush jungle landscape, Sukarma took the initiative to develop the area into a comfortable relaxation space for tourists. At first, Sayan Point was known as Sunset Point because it offered incredible sunset views from the western side of the Sayan region.
As development progressed, more facilities were added, including a more established restaurant and the pool. Nevertheless, Sayan Point stayed true to its initial intention, to be a space of relaxation, offering tourists seeking a different perspective on Ubud’s often busy atmosphere.
It is something of a third space. While tourists can buy drinks, dinner, snacks, and more, the real intention is for guests to simply be, to relax, to genuinely slow down and enjoy the scenery that they have traveled so far across the world to see.
There are all kinds of homemade, locally founded, funded, and operated tourism businesses all across Bali, from sunset hangouts like Sayan Point, to waterfall attractions, through to classes, workshops, and locally created tours.
Here at The Bali Sun, we always encourage tourists to step at least a little off the path, because in Bali, the rewards are huge…we’ll see you at Sayan Point at sunset!
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