ASITA Bali Pushes Shift Toward Regenerative Tourism
At its regional assembly, ASITA Bali called for a shift toward 'regenerative tourism,' which aims not just to reduce tourism's negative impacts but to actively benefit local communities, culture, and the environment. Travel agencies are urged to guide tourists toward village tourism, local products, and more meaningful travel experiences.
At the 15th Regional Deliberation (Musda XV) of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies Association (ASITA) Bali chapter, held in Jimbaran, Badung Regency, chairman I Putu Winastra called for transforming Bali's tourism industry toward the concept of 'regenerative tourism.'
According to Winastra, regenerative tourism goes beyond simply reducing tourism's negative impacts—it aims for tourism to leave a destination in better condition than before, delivering real benefits to local communities, culture, and the environment. The assembly was held under the theme 'Repositioning the Future of Tourism.'
Winastra said Bali's cultural values, which emphasize balance between humans, nature, and spirituality, align closely with the principles of regenerative tourism. He argued that future tourism development must consider the benefits visits bring to local communities, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability.
He also emphasized that travel agencies hold a strategic position in driving this change, since they interact directly with tourists and influence which destinations are visited, what activities are undertaken, and which tourism products are chosen. He called for agencies to transform from mere transaction facilitators into key players in the tourism ecosystem—shifting from simply selling destinations to helping preserve their quality, and from merely transporting tourists to creating meaningful journeys.
Specifically, he said travel agencies could direct tourists toward tourism villages, encourage purchases of local products, promote respect for local culture, support environmental protection, and help spread economic benefits more evenly across communities.
Things to Consider
When planning a trip to Bali, consider choosing experiences that directly benefit local communities, such as visiting tourism villages (desa wisata) or purchasing local products. When booking tours, opt for travel agencies or guides who emphasize environmental and cultural responsibility. It's also advisable to check and respect local customs and temple dress codes in advance of visits.
Source: ANTARA News Bali