Tourism should 'give back' to farmers

Irawaty Wardany ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Sanur   |  Fri, 08/08/2008 10:24 AM  |  Bali

The former tourism minister Joop Ave called for tourism players to start investing in the agriculture sector because many farmers in Bali had yet to benefit from the island's lucrative tourism industry.

"It is important for us to pay more attention to farmers because they are the ones who provide us with food and all the things that support the tourism industry," he said.

"Unfortunately they have not had enough of a share from tourism."

Joop Ave, also a senior tourism business owner, was speaking at the opening of the Third Sanur Village festival on Wednesday night.

Another reason to invest in the agriculture sector was its importance in the formation of the island's unique cultural characteristics, he said.

The Balinese culture and religious belief system are two of its tourism industry's main attractions. At the heart of this system is the intricate traditional agriculture system embodied in the renowned subak irrigation associations.

Investment in the agriculture sector would channel profit from the island's lucrative tourism industry to the island's farmers and, in the longer run, would play a significant role in preserving the island's unique cultural system.

There were three main ethical concerns stipulated by the UN's World Tourism Organization according to I Gede Ardika, member of its World Committee on Tourism Ethics.

"Firstly, tourism is not only an economic activity but also a tool to preserve a cultural environment.

"Secondly, tourism must be able to contribute to the well-being of the local people and thirdly, tourism should be able to develop understanding and friendship among people from different countries around the world.

"Those are the challenges which I hope this festival can answer," he said.

He also expected this festival could encourage local artists to create new works.

"Just like the new creation dance 'Abdi Keraton' we have just seen at the opening of this festival," he said.

The head of the organizing committee of the Sanur Village Festival, Ida Bagus Sidharta, said the festival aimed to revitalize Sanur as the main tourism destination in Bali.

"We chose 'Going Green' as this year's theme because we want to develop the public's awareness and commitment toward environmental preservation," he said.

He added global warming had become a specter for the future existence of human beings.

"That is why we conducted some environmental activities during the festival, such as coral transplantation, beach cleaning, turtle release and an art and cultural exhibition with environmental themes," he said.

During the opening ceremony, the festival also presented several tourism establishments and communities with environmental awards. The recipients were recognized for their commitment to environmental conservation and preservation.

The Mercure, Tamu Kami, Bali Hyatt and Sea Walker were selected as tourism establishments with solid environmental programs. Sanur Kauh, Sanur Kaja and Sanur subdistricts were named as communities which had succeeded in initiating and implementing "Going Green" movements.

The awards were presented by Denpasar's mayor, A.A. Ngurah Puspayoga.

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