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Bali governor wants international events to use Balinese language, attire
At the very least, he suggested, the event committee members or the organizer’s employees should wear Balinese attire.
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A sign at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali has a Balinese script above its Latin script as part of the administration's cultural preservation efforts that began last year. (Courtesy of Angkasa Pura I/-)
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s part of the Bali administration’s cultural preservation drive, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has encouraged organizers to include the Balinese language and attire in national and international events.
The Bali administration sent the Surat Edaran (circular) No. 3172/2019, signed on April 5, to all event organizers, government institutions, ministry offices, NGOs, consulates general and private companies. The circular is designed to introduce Balinese culture to the international community, as well as to preserve the culture.
“The policy is designed to preserve Balinese attire, language, script and literature. It should also generate a culture-based economy for Bali’s people,” Koster said in a press release on Monday.
Koster explained that many national and international events have been held on the resort island over the past few years. The biggest event so far, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting in 2018, was attended by around 34,000 people from all over the world. However, in most of the events, the participants mostly wore jackets and ties.
In the circular, Koster encourages organizers to present Balinese attire for every national and international event. At the very least, he suggests, the event committee members or the organizer’s employees should use Balinese attire. Meanwhile, the participants can wear their own traditional attire.
“At least, the opening ceremony of the events could present people wearing Balinese attire. I would really appreciate it if the Balinese attire could be used for entire events,” Koster said.
Religious events such as wedding ceremonies, which are also often held in hotels, are exempted from the policy. The bride, family, and all the organizer employees are allowed to wear their own attire based on their own traditions.
