Upscale Bali: The movement to re-market the image
Bali is in a state of transition from a bamboo and trinket, hippie trail layover, to a villa, spa, nightlife retreat for tourists. The movement started some years ago, inspired in part by some of the expat New Yorkers and Sydneysiders who saw a need to up-market everything. Everything from boutiques, spas, lounge bars, private villas with ‘rice field view’ (often quickly morphing into the next villa), minimalist Zen design and shorter visiting tourists.
One gushing review in the Sydney Morning Herald, talks about this aspect of Bali. I think for people on their first trip here ,this account fits the bill, everyone is smiling and life is good. Life is still good when you live here, but a dose of reality soon arrives. Bill Clinton used to have a note on his desk which said ‘Its the economy stupid’. This was a reminder to him what was most important to American voters. If you visit Bali, you should write yourself a note and keep it in your wallet. It should say ‘Its all about the money stupid.’ People are friendly here and enjoy an intense culture, but a lot of what goes on here, in relation to tourists in economic, just like every other place.
In the next 20 years Bali will undergo tremendous change and development. Get your fill of ‘quiet Bali’ now. We will look back on these days in wonder 20 years from now. Imagine saying to someone, “I went to East Bali for the weekend and only saw westerners once.” You can do that now so why wait, enjoy Bali as it should be.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Pak Tjok,
some time I feel the same as your feel. But we have to be awake and keep awarness that Bali really developing too fast for us as local people. In other hand many Balineses just take the advantages without thinking where we will bring Bali to? We have to participat in this development and try to understand what the changing is, so we can do some thing for Bali.
Hi Nick,
I remember you mentioned about it a while ago…. eco tourism. I’ve also heard a lot about “pariwisata budaya” (cultural tourism).. and recently “spiritual tourism”… etc.
The idea, I guess, is to let the “little people” pariticpate more in the tourism itself, being a subject instead of an object.
I really have no idea about what’s going on in Bali, especially in tourism sector (I’m one of those balineses who feel uncomfortable about Bali’s almost absolut dependence on tourism).
Could you give me some clues? Like, how they — the eco tour folks — are doing. How big is their number. Or something similar to them. Etc.
Thanks in advance.