Expository

ECOTOURISM:

A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO MASS TOURISM IN BALI

by :

I Gusti Agung Paramitha Eka Putri (0812021026)

Ecotourism can be an alternative to mass tourism in Bali. First, this sustainable tourism requires a good managing in all resources. It means that social, economic, and aesthetic needs are met without ignoring the simultaneous maintaining of cultural integrity, ecological process, biological diversity, and life support system. What you can see today in Bali is mostly mass tourism. Investors built hotels and villas everywhere. They over-exploit the nature to get a large amount of money. They often miss the conservation. Beaches and rice paddies are fragile, thus there needs to be caution in their development. If not, they will easily be destroyed. By doing ecotourism, we will not only get money but also get good benefits for our future generation. The nature will be preserved.

Second, Bali always has been an enchanting place for foreigners. There is no need to worry that after applying the ecotourism there will be no foreigners visit Bali. Images of rice paddies, beautiful beaches and temples and a fascinating culture draw tourists from all around the world. That is the nature. That is the nature what the foreigners are searching for. They are not looking for how many hotels or villas been built in Bali. But they seek the uniqueness of Bali. And the only way – to explore the true Bali – is ecotourism. Ecotourism doesn’t expect the visitors to exploit the nature. Instead it asks them to explore our nature without passing the conservation of the nature over. Let’s take a look at Nusa Penida Island – one of tourism destination in Bali which has applied ecotourism for decades. Nusa Penida provides fascinating idea of sustainable tourism. It upholds the culture and traditional lifestyle of seaweed planting. Local people also have been involved in planning and approval the ecotourism. The visitors sleep in local people’s home, they eat the local people’s dishes, and they plant seaweed just like what local people do. Therefore, ecotourism in Nusa Penida Island will provide visitors with a high-quality experience while the visitors unconsciously take a part in maintain the quality of the environment of Nusa Penida Island itself.

Next, one of the major problems of mass tourism is Balinese never ever receive the ‘real income’ for all of the money comes from tourism sector. All those large amount of money goes to the investors’ pocket. Balinese mostly become the workers or labor. They run their life as a waiter, not as the General Manager of a hotel. But since one of the requirements for ecotourism is "to hire and buy locally" it can be a sound alternative for Balinese. The willingness of visitors to pay considerable amounts of money to visit ecologically valuable places in Bali can be a source of great revenue for Balinese and its conservation efforts.

Bali does really need a remedial for its nature. Even though ecotourism is not perfect, it can make a difference. At least it can be a resource to the host communities to help them decide what kind of development their residents want to pursue.