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'Kecak’ dance at Bali's Uluwatu Temple gets ‘new normal’ tweak
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Tourists watch a traditional Balinese 'kecak' dance at Uluwatu Temple in Bali. (Shutterstock.com/Alexander Mazurkevich)
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mid the pandemic, Uluwatu Temple Outer Area Tourism, famous for its thrilling kecak dance performance, has officially launched a digital payment service.
According to the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry's Regional II destination development director, Wawan Gunawan, the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS)-based payment system allows for a faster, easier, cheaper and more secure service, as it will minimize physical contact.
"Hopefully, it will help revive tourism and the creative economy in Uluwatu," added Wawan in a statement on Sunday.
The kecak dance at the Uluwatu Temple Outer Area is one of Bali's must-watch art performances, regularly attracting 6,000 to 8,000 visitors per day before the pandemic. Taking place at the temple’s amphitheater right on the edge of a cliff, it is usually held late in the afternoon with a dramatic sunset over the Indian Ocean as a backdrop.
The tourist destination was closed for some time but recently reopened, although with a lower number of visitors.
As a precaution, health protocols are being implemented, including requiring the dancers to wear face masks, lowering the number of dancers and changing the choreography to allow for physical distancing. Visitors are also required to wear face masks, wash their hands using soap or hand sanitizer and maintain a safe distance according to the signage on their seat.
"The pattern of tourists in this Adaptasi Kebiasaan Baru [Adopting New Behaviors] period has changed. They tend to look for services that implement health protocols such as social distancing and avoid direct physical contact. Hopefully, QRIS will help these tourists feel safe and comfortable during their visit," said Bali Governor I Wayan Koster.
Koster is hopeful that all tourism players and the public will be able to implement health protocols correctly, with discipline, commitment and responsibility. "If done right, hopefully Bali's tourism will soon improve, so that in 2021 it will acquire an overall green zone status."
Bali has reopened to domestic tourists, but plans to welcome foreign visitors have been pushed back until at least at the end of this year due to the still alarming situation. (wir/kes)
