A new travel experience could be developed around Bali’s Mount Batur.
Located in the heart of the Kintamani region, Mount Batur and Lake Batur are two of Bali’s most famous natural tourist attractions.
Leaders want to see tourists interact more meaningfully with the landscape, and they are devising a new tourism program to help achieve this.
Speaking at an event held at the Toya Devasya to celebrate 22 years of the Batur UNESCO Geopark, top tourism leaders discussed the opportunity to develop ‘Storynomics Tourism’ in Kintamani, specifically within the Batur Geopark area.
Writer and singer Demi Lestari told the audience how essential the story is to humanity, noting that storytelling is a basic human need. He wants to see the struggle of the Balinese people and the stories of the land communicated better to tourists.
Lestari suggested that stories of the Batur Geopark area touch upon everything from agriculture to culture, including the origin stories of the first kingdom of Bali, where a Balinese king married a princess from China.
Lester said, “This story is that all Batur people know about it, but it is not [shared] with tourists.”
The idea is being supported by Ni Luh Djelantik. Known for her social activism work and support for a more cultural respect in tourism in Bali Djelantik backed the idea to share more of Kintamani’s stories with the world.
Born and raised within the volcanic landscape, Djelantik shared, “When I was little, I used to bathe here, by the lake.”
As part of the development of ‘storynomics’ the Toya Devasya team launched a ebook and digital journey called “Eat, Play, Love” which tells the story of the resort, and I Ketut Mardjana, who played a major role in developing the Batur tourist area and the surrounding community.
However, the Chairman of the DPD of the Indonesian Tourism Association (HPI) Bali, I Nyoman Nuarta, was clear that the promotion of storytelling tourism cannot be separated from the guide profession.
He wants to make sure that guides in the area are supported to become storytellers to help ensure that high-quality tourism services are prioritized.
Nuarta said, “Our members are 9.5 thousand with 11 language divisions, which tells a tourist destination [has gone] from dead to alive.” He wanted to make sure guides were not pushed out by individuals who could share stories but not offer the complete package of guiding.
The idea of storytelling tourism is picking up speed in Bali. Companies like Ubud Story Walks are capturing the attention of culture-curious tourists.
The company, founded in 2022, offers small group tours of Ubud and the surrounding areas with a strong focus on sharing unique cultural experiences and offering tourists the chance to connect with the destination in a meaningful way.
The walks are short in distance, usually covering just one mile, but are deep in wisdom and information.
The Ubud Past and Present Tour takes guests on an intimate and in-depth journey through Ubud’s most famous landmarks, including Pura Gunung Lebah, Campuhan Bridge, Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud Royal Palace, and Lempad’s House.
Pointing out details and stories that are often overlooked or underappreciated, the Ubud Story Walks team gives tourists the chance to experience Bali of old and walk in the footsteps of royalty.
For those seeking a cultural immersion into Bali’s lesser-visited gems, the Myth of Penjeng Tour offered by Ubud Story Walks is an itinerary essential.
Guests “explore the remnants of the Ancient Bali era through fascinating artifacts, inscriptions, and ancient burial sites that bear the stories of the first kingdoms.”
As part of the journey, guests “uncover the secrets and local legends behind fascinating archaeological discoveries such as the sculptures at the Temple of the Crazy Buffalo and Southeast Asia’s largest bronze vessel.”
Tours with Ubud Story Walks start at IDR 300,000 for international adults and can be booked via the website.
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Tuesday 30th of July 2024
"Known for her social activism work and support for a more cultural respect in tourism in Bali."
Sounds great, but as an observer of what is going on in parts of south Bali there are other forces dominating now -- forces that are only thinking about financial gains. A new generation of foreigners now arriving from countries with less than stellar reputation are working in tandem with local "friends" to pour concrete onto beaches and rice fields.
I saw a similar trend in Jakarta with many large international energy companies basically leaving or dramatically downscaling; Exxon, Shell, Chevron, Total, Newmont, etc. Replaced to some degree by local companies or Chinese, all with much less rigorous dealings with accounting and ethics.