Events generate positive impacts

Tourist events and festivals held in Indonesia’s top destination areas — Bali, West Java and Bintan Island in Sumatra — have directly and positively impacted on local people’s living and economic conditions, a survey reveals.

Henky Hermanto, Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s research and development department chief, disclosed the results of the ministry’s survey conducted in 2010, which showed that events and festivals had benefited small-scale entrepreneurs, organizers and other related sectors.

Hermanto said that the survey was held in these three places, which had organized numerous local and international tourist events and festivals.

“Many parties lodged questions on the effectiveness and benefits of holding cultural and arts events for tourists,” Hermanto added.

The ministry responded to these questions by conducting surveys and studies to gain as much input from locals, organizers, the city administration and business circles to learn more about the impacts of these events on people’s living conditions.

“The survey focuses on the direct impacts of events, festivals and exhibitions, exhibitors, traders, travel and transportation, and accommodation on the local people,” he said.

Culturally, the events and festivals, he said, had boosted locals’ creativity and entrepreneurship skills.

In terms of the economy, such events had increased the profit and revenue of local businesspeople from small-scale to large-scale businesses.

“Unfortunately, the survey was carried out in limited places within limited time frames. We plan to hold a more comprehensive survey in other parts of Indonesia this year to map the potential of each tourist destination in Indonesia,” he said.

Separately, Wayan Geriya, a sociologist and anthropologist at the University of Udayana in Denpasar, said that Bali had successfully implemented community-based arts and cultural events and festivals that involved thousands of people.

The month-long Pekan Kesenian Bali Arts Festival, Denpasar Festival and Sanur Village Festivals were among the most-awaited cultural events on the island. These festivals had significant benefits for participants in terms of culture and economy.

“However, there are also many cultural festivals that do not involve grassroots communities such as the Nusa Dua Festival, which involves only hotels and properties operating within the complex,” said Geriya.

Moreover, Geriya also notified that most festivals were not promoted widely and effectively enough. “Some festivals were held in the same month with limited promotional activities, especially in overseas countries,” the anthropologist said.

Geriya urged local authorities both at provincial and regional levels to discuss and communicate their cultural plans well. “Each regency has its own unique potential that can be complemented by the other and more importantly, any festival must benefit the local people,” he added.

IGN Eddy Mulya, assistant for the economics and development agency at Denpasar municipality, shared Geriya’s opinion. “The annual Denpasar Art Festival was implemented together by traditional villages of Banjar in the city,” said Eddy.

Participants of the festival came from surrounding villages. Eddy said the festival brought together local artists, musicians, art producers and people from other economic sectors to display their products. Last year’s festival generated billions of rupiah in trade deals.