A Message of Sustainable Tourism from Ubud

ERIKA KURNIA

A number of residents enter the Campuhan Ridge Walk area, in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, on Wednesday (23/3/2022).

Putu Diarthi (28) once hoped that the bustling setup in Ubud would disappear. The Covid-19 pandemic seemed to answer her prayers. But instead of feeling exciting by the situation she regretted it. Now, Ubud and Bali are recovering and doing so a similar situation does not happen again.

Ubud in Gianyar regency, Bali, on Tuesday morning (22/3/2022) was quiet. The same quietness that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, the constant roar of engines and vehicle horns disturbed the peace of the residents, especially those who lived in Central Ubud. Motor vehicle traffic jams were a common sight.

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“Ubud was so crowded at that time, I'm sure anyone who lived in Ubud would have, at least once, hoped that the bustling crowds in Ubud didn't exist. After it came true I was confused. I realized the bustle of Ubud actually brings blessings," said Putu Diarthi, a resident of Ubud village, Ubud District.

Putu runs a small inn that has lost guests during the pandemic.

The disappearance of the traffic jams made her rethink the saturation that occurs as a result of mass tourism activities that have snatched the tranquility of Ubud.

On the one hand, the quietness of Ubud is something that Erma is grateful for. Erma is a native of Ubud and owner of Littletalks, a cafe and library in Ubud. The disappearance of the traffic jams made her rethink the saturation that occurs as a result of mass tourism activities that have snatched the tranquility of Ubud.

On the other, the lack of buyers has forced her to rack her brain on how keep the business going. Littletalks chose to stay open even though it had few customers. To cut its losses, it made a number of adjustments, such as reducing operational hours and adjusting the menu and prices.

In the midst of their difficulties, Erma and Putu were concerned about the fate of the people around them who were used to relying on tourism for their livelihood. “It is not easy to switch from tourism to other fields. However, my relatives and people around me, especially those who still have farmland, mostly turned to agriculture,” said Erma.

By farming, Ubud residents cannot earn as much as when they were in the tourist business, but at least they can produce their own rice and vegetables for their daily needs even though their standard of living continues to decline.

KOMPAS/ERIKA KURNIA

Residents walk in the Campuhan Ridge Walk area, in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, on Tuesday (22/3/2022).

Around Central Ubud, terraced rice field tourism in the Tegallalang subdistrict, about 10 kilometers from the center, is also shaky due to the pandemic.

The lack of tourists has caused the shops selling art and souvenirs along the Ubud-Tegallalang road to be quiet, with many closing. The photo spots around the terraced rice fields, which before the pandemic were always crowded with tourists, are now neglected. Moss and weeds grow here and there.

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Wayan, an owner of one of the stalls as well as a photo spot in Tegallalang, lost his income, which usually reached Rp 20 million (US$1392) per day before the pandemic. "Right now, you can earn a maximum of Rp 500,000 per day," he said.

Rearrangement

Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Gede Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, when presenting on his book Padma Bhuwana Bali, on Saturday (19/3), said the pandemic was an opportunity to rethink Bali's steps forward.

“When tourism was fine, we thought that Bali was destroyed because of the many foreign cultures that were adopted here. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Bali was also devastated because tourism was not active and the economy was dying. This situation provides an opportunity for Bali to organize itself," he said in a press release issued by the Bali provincial administration.

The arrangement, according to him, must adapt to the character of the Bali region. For example, the Central Bali area, which is located in Gianyar regency, could focus on being a nature-oriented tourist area and offering art and crafts as a result of the creativity of the hands of the local community.

Sustainable tourism is characterized by management that has a positive impact on all aspects, especially environmental sustainability and the economy of the community.

The ability of the Balinese people to get through the pandemic, which has entered its third year, is expected to accelerate the development of sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism is characterized by management that has a positive impact on all aspects, especially environmental sustainability and the economy of the community.

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has prepared policies to support the growth of sustainable tourism, namely by issuing the Tourism Ministerial Regulation No. 14/2016 concerning Guidelines for the Development of Sustainable Tourism Destinations.

Adapting to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030, the government intends to provide decent work, sustainable production and consumption and marine ecosystem conservation. This applies nationally, including in Bali, and within it Ubud.

Returning to Ubud, Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, chairman of the Indonesian Tourist Industry Association (GIPI) Bali, said after the pandemic, tourism recovery would still be on the main agenda of Ubud, which is 10 square kilometers smaller than Central Jakarta. The direction is toward sustainable tourism.

KOMPAS/ERIKA KURNIA

Tourists walk in the Campuhan Ridge Walk area, in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Wednesday (23/3/2022).

“Ubud will always be visited. My suggestion is to build a good transportation system, like in the coastal city of Positano, Italy. That city is as small as Ubud and around 10,000-15,000 tourists visit the city per day. They are good at managing transportation infrastructure, from public transportation to adequate parking spaces," he said.

With the right arrangement and infrastructure, it is hoped that Ubud will recover into a nature and culture-based tourist spot. Yet at the same time, Ubud should also remain a liveable area for local residents.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo).