70355-0-8. ITBS – University of Angers France; Udayana University; Bali State Polytecnic; Sahid Institute
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3. DISCUSSION
3.1 The Stigma Of Sustainable Tourism As A
Concept That Is Not Measurable In Bali
At the level of theory and concepts, sustainable tourism is an ideal and very laudable concept, but is fraught with
problems that need to be tested so as to make the definition more on the practical and operational things.
1.
Duration of sustainability Sustainability is stigmatized as conservation efforts of
natural and cultural assets that its economic value can also be enjoyed by the next generations. These stigma and
principle are still very general, not realistic, and pragmatic, which in turn it will have different perceptions because of
different interests. For example, there is no clear deadline, when the sustainability will be implemented and its
duration of implementation [18]. More specifically how many more generations that the sustainability should be
evaluated a century or a millennium. It is very difficult then when there is no explanation that states the indicators
within a definite framework of system. When converted in the development of tourism in Bali, which originated from
the 1960s until the 1970s with the development model of small-scale tourism, has little impact on the environment
and socio-culture. However, many hotels were built between 1970-1980 on a large scale in the areas of Nusa
Dua, Sanur, and Kuta and since then Bali has started experiencing the effects of the tourism development to
date [19]. Bali with a variety of art and culture has undergone a cultural transformation. In the 1980s the
people of Bali have proclaimed Ajeg Bali, but until now there is no clear indicator of Bali in what period and
situation which has to be maintained. What happens is that the development in the modernization era continues. The
people are aware that the development of Bali should be enjoyed by the future generations, but paradoxically, many
Balinese land are no longer owned by the Balinese people. The period of time which is used as a baseline in
determining the success of sustainable development is not clear either. The existing definition is only an emphasis on
sustainability for the future generations, but there is no certainty to which generation used as a benchmark. This
has implications that every generation has a different pattern of development and a dynamic culture. As an
example of the 90s generation, the Balinese still predominantly used brick as a Balinese style building
ornament, but the current generations prefer more dominantly on natural stones as a result of the influence of
postmodernism. 2.
Community organizations The debate on sustainability appears also at the operational
level of the organization of society, for example: households, villages, towns or regencies, provinces, or a
global world? According to Berno T and Bricher K, [4]. critical decisions on tourism planning is made at the local,
national, and international levels. Although vertical integration have appeared in this organization but the
decision is often made exclusively without consultation or collaboration between the central and the local policy
makers. Tourism is a symptom or a very complex phenomenon and fragmentation occurs where the role of
tourism in the global and national economies are not in accordance with the classical definition of the industry and
products. Tourism has a complex system of organization and administration, while on the other hand, the needs of
the stakeholders is so contradictory to each other that strongly inhibit the sustainable tourism. The are still many
of tourism regulations that can not be implemented in certain region of Indonesia. The local autonomy, for
example, backfires and contradicts with the interests of the islands of Bali and Bali which comprises of eight
regencies and a city. Planning that should be made linearly, but in the implementations, many regencies or
cities do not have a plan which in line with that in the province. The Interests of the regencies are different from
those of the province [20]. 3.
The Goals of Sustainability Discussing sustainability, particularly from the aspect of
the goals that must be maintained, is a significant challenge. The goals that must be considered is that the
sustainability for the sake of the investors, local communities, tourists or the interests of a group of people.
Sustainability ideally contributes equitably to all stakeholders, but the implementation is still very far from
realistic [7]. The recent development of tourism in Bali, quantitatively show a more prosperous society when
compared with the 1980s, but qualitatively the Balinese people have lost their quality of life. Today, immigrants
are becoming the majority of workers in the tourism sector, and only 40 of the Balinese work in the tourism
sector with a decent position. Poverty gap is widening in the area of tourism, more unemployment, and crime began
to increase [20]. Another indicator that is difficult to answer in the sustainability are: to whom the goals of
sustainability are for: for all humans live in the present day, for all the people who will live, for all living beings
who will live? The condition will be different from the time of sustainability. The Bali tourism sustainability
should be enjoyed by people of Bali today and generations to come. The current development condition of Bali is
merely concerned with its toda
y’s generations. The vision of Bali is only adapted to the term of office of a Governor.
It should be adapted to the vision of the Bali Strategic Plan made by the government, such as the Medium-term Plan
and the Long-term Plan. 4.
Indicator of the success of sustainability The next question that needs to be answered is what
aspects can be used to measure the sustainable development: per capita income, social complexity, gross
national product, social and cultural sustainability, individual consumption, ecological or biodiversity? These
conditions are indeed very abstract to be measured qualitatively. The size of public wealth can only be
measured from the aspect of satisfaction. This means that the Balinese have not felt prosperous on condition where
tourism has a direct impact on improving their welfare. This can be seen in the development of tourism in Bali
70355-0-8. ITBS – University of Angers France; Udayana University; Bali State Polytecnic; Sahid Institute
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which has increased the economic gap between the people of Bali, especially in the tourist areas of Kuta, Nusa Dua,
Ubud and others. Therefore, in each decision made on the development plan should use clear benchmarks or ideal
quantitative measures for the future development of Bali. All of this resulted in the carrying capacity of Bali. The
comprehensive carrying capacity will provide results that achieve the goals of sustainability.
5. Diverse products
The debate on sustainable tourism should also be criticized from various aspects, one of which is its product [21].
Sustainable tourism does not have a clear product, as it is an integral part of the tourism industry products, so a
question should be addressed i.e. which part of the product must be maintained. The products are unchanged static,
whereas in the sustainable tourism, there are dynamic people and culture or in other words, the demand that
should be maintained. Therefore, who should be responsible and decide on this matter. Should be one or
some who retain it for individuals, communities, regions or countries; experience for tourists, for business income
or lifestyle for residents; every company, economic sector or the economy as a whole and the system of production,
economic activity, cultural expression or environmental conditions ? Should all existing tourism activities are
maintained, or better change some and replaced them with another? These new tourist activities are able to formulate
sustainable tourism although the form of tourism has changed and the new form may not contribute to the goals
of the broader sustainable development?
All matters above are indeed very difficult to determine moreover if it wants to be equated, with no one
to be sacrificed. However, based on the challenges above, it is possible that the sustainable tourism essentially can be
applied to provide reflection for tourism players to remain more prudent in the tourism development. The
implications either directly or indirectly remain influential on the natural environment, culture and economy of the
region.
Awareness of environmental, socio-cultural and economic issues posed by development models and
practices of mass tourism activities, drive some tourism players to make products that are more environmentally
friendly, so a variety of new forms of tourism products emerge
such as
ecotourism, alternative
tourism, appropriate tourism, culture tourism, adventure tourism,
green tourism, soft tourism, wildlife tourism, community- based tourism, and so forth. As revealed by Gunn and Var
[22] that sustainable tourism such as ecotourism is still
popular and not ambiguous, because it can be used as control of natural resources from human activities, and
socio-cultural preservation. This is the case in Australia where the sustainable tourism issues tend to focus on
environmental issues and eco-tourism [1]. However, according to Breno and Briker [4], it is as the
consequences to the practice of mass tourism. By the use of these terms even make the sustainable tourism very
blurred. According to Font, Xavier and Elizabeth Skinner and Ronald Sanabria [23], the terminology exchange of
ecotourism with sustainable tourism, showing inadequate understanding of the two terms, because not all forms of
ecotourism are sustainable and on the other hands, not all of sustainable tourisms take place in the natural areas. The
relationship between sustainable tourism and ecotourism needs to be scrutinized and evaluated and it should be
given recognition in accordance with its respective principle [9];[24]. In this aspect, it is clear that these two
things are different. Ecotourism emphasizes on the physical environmentnature, while sustainable tourism
emphasizes on all aspects of the macro environment. However, in reality the development of international
tourism has experienced a very high growth rate due to globalization and technological development. It is
mentioned in Breno and Briker [4], in 1999, there were over 664 million international tourist movements, of which
about 80 can be defined as mass tourism. This type of travelers who have supported sustainable tourism, and it
cannot be said that mass tourism is a low-level of tourism [25].
This makes sustainable tourism dichotomy that as if it were the only eco-tourism, which ignores the other sectors.
This problem can also be a challenge and prevent the difference principle of mass tourism from the perception of
bad tourism and the alternative tourism from a good tourism perception. The sustainable tourism and all forms
of tourism not only the alternative forms of tourism should move toward the goal of sustainability [26].
3.2 Cooperation, Collaboration And Integration