Sustainable Development at Bali using retrospective approach: In 1962, two communities—one based in Sanur at Wija Waworuntu’s Tandjung Sari Hotel and the other in Ubud at Walter Spies’ Tjampuhan Hotel—began to discuss their vision for Balinese hospitality regularly. These conversations took place in simple settings, complemented by authentic Balinese food and stimulating discussions. Among these visionaries was Adrian Zecha, now known as the “Steve Jobs” of hospitality for creating the ultra-luxurious Aman Resorts.
Over 60 years ago, these pioneers rejected popular architectural styles of the time, such as Art Deco and Miami-inspired American hotels, in favor of refined Balinese aesthetics. This form of cultural preservation shaped what became the dominant design language for Asian boutique hotels, characterized by thatched roofs, intricate stone sculptures, and a strong architectural identity rooted in native artisanal craftsmanship.
Bali's Development: Past vs. Present
This table provides a comparative overview of the focus shifts and impacts on local communities in Bali's tourism industry over time. Click the "View Details" buttons to expand each section.
| Category | Past | Present | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus Shift | Prioritized Balinese culture, heritage, and sustainable tourism. | Driven by rapid economic growth, large-scale developments, and a surge in luxury villa constructions. | |
| Additional Context: The early pioneers of Bali's tourism industry, such as Adrian Zecha, focused on creating an authentic, community-oriented tourism experience. Today's developments prioritize short-term profitability and mass tourism. | |||
| Impact on Local Communities | Tourism was designed to benefit local communities, offering authentic cultural experiences. | Many new developments cater to short-term gains, often overlooking the needs of the Balinese people and environment. | |
| Additional Context: Early tourism initiatives were built around local involvement and cultural preservation. Modern-day tourism has led to overcrowding, loss of traditional livelihoods, and environmental challenges for Balinese communities. Check the YouTube video down below. | |||
In search for answers to how the Bali of development can better be guided, I’m Jason, a journalist at Bukit Vista, and this will be a multi-part series where I’ll be interviewing an entrepreneur with almost 20 years of experience managing hundreds of properties in Bali, Jing Cho Yang, the founder of Bukit Vista.
These strong principles established by the early Bali tourism pioneers placed Bali and its culture at the forefront of the tourist experience, offering elegant, timeless designs that respected local heritage and prioritized sustainable development. Take a look at today’s overview of Bali’s tourism landscape from ABC In-depth’s YouTube channel.
The documentary portrays Bali as a place that is rapidly losing its unique identity and cultural essence due to a surge in property developments, mini-cities, and extravagant projects that lack a focus on sustainable development. Traditional rice paddies, farmlands, and even sacred sites are being replaced with luxury villas, hotels, and Instagram-friendly spots, leading to an erosion of the island’s cultural landscape. The local population, who have farmed and maintained the land for centuries, are being pressured to sell their properties to developers, leading to a loss of traditional livelihoods and customs.
There’s a focus on how large-scale construction projects are disrupting the natural environment, from limestone cliff collapses to the deforestation of rice paddies, reducing Bali’s natural beauty. The obsession with creating “Instagrammable” villas, hotels, and locations is depicted as a driving force behind the real estate boom. Developers prioritize aesthetics over sustainable development principles, catering to influencers and tourists looking for perfect photo backdrops. Local critics like Niluh Djelantik and other activists voice concerns that politicians are prioritizing short-term economic gain over long-term sustainable development, creating policies that favor investors over preserving Bali’s heritage.
Has developement in Bali’s hospitality industry going to the wrong direction?
The moment that developers and tourists become more self-centered, is the moment when overdevelopment started to happening. Jing refers to this as a misguided development, where the developers are only chasing profits without considering the harmony between their projects and it’s side-effect. This phenomenon is going at a rapid pace that the central government of Indonesia has recently taken steps to regulate rapid development in Bali, particularly by controlling the issuance of new building permits. There’s even a moratorium under discussion, as reported by Seven Stones.
In the next article, we will take a deeper dive into Bali’s sustainable development journey, tracing its roots. By exploring a deeper historical context, we will examine how early philosophies shaped Bali’s identity and how their legacy compares with today’s sustainable development trends. Stay tuned as we look back at Bali’s past for insights into its future sustainable development.