THK and Hotels (10)

Bali Remains as a Tourism Destination

Introduction
Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards & Accreditations (THK Awards) in 2005 is five years old. However, there are people still putting it into question, “What is the background of executing this program? Why does this program target hotels? Does not the hotel ‘only’ appeal for capital and profit/loss, while THK puts forward harmony and togetherness principles? Is it possible that both poles—capital and profit on the one hand, while harmony and togetherness spirit on the other hand—can coalesce? So, what is the concrete result of the THK Awards after five years?
Bali Travel News, starting from the 14th edition carries comprehensive articles around the carrying out of THK Awards. Based on the background of the program launched, its method and execution mechanism up to the positive impact comes into view after five years.

Jimbaran and Kuta’s bomb—currently better known as Bali Bomb II, 1 October 2005—in fact, did not only inflict great problems in the security affairs, but also the shattering of world’s confidence towards tourism destination of Bali. “Is Bali now becoming a tourism destination or terrorism destination?”
Such an allusive question frequently comes about post-Bali Bomb II. What an exasperating allusion it is! Our response—whether government apparatus, community or moreover the tourism businessmen—should be in one voice to say: Bali is tourism destination forever.
Now, it has been more than a month that bomb explosion passed by, however, the motive of such human tragedy has not been revealed yet. Even, identity of the executors is still up in the air so our concern, anxiety and apprehension as if had become hodgepodge. Concern, anxiety and apprehension are progressively harder if they associated with the security of Bali tourism.
We are getting uneasy, more anxious and fearful because for some last 30 years tourism sector has too far predominated the economy of Balinese community. In terms of Bali’s product domestic regional (PDRB) perspective, for instance the tourism service sector contributed over 70%, while in 1971 only 33%. Contribution of agricultural sector to PDRB of Bali in 1971 and previously reached 60%, during the last 30 years it remained some 20% and industrial sector did 10% (previously, in 1971 was only 7%). In the meantime, contribution of tourism industry to the PDRB of Bali was relatively high (3%), industry (3.4%) and agriculture (1.7%).
This data indicated that the tourism sector had intensely outstanding effect towards the economy of Balinese community. Any slight shake occurs in this sector will automatically quiver and affect the economy of Balinese people. Even, its echo soon spreads globally. For that reason, option to continue the development and sustainability of tourism sector is not only appropriate and rational, but also come to be an obligation of entire components of Bali—its government, businessmen and community.
We, the program organizers of Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards & Accreditations (THK Awards)—certainly also participants of this program—internally accomplishes to drive the most important component in tourism sector, namely hotels, tourist objects and attractions to implement THK concept to generate harmony and togetherness. However, obstacles of external environment, either domestic or regional and international, towards tourism of Bali are in fact hugely substantial.
Now, external obstacles that are dreadfully felt—as mentioned above—is in security affairs. It is called the most dreadful as the security affairs constitute a very urgent prerequisite and necessity for tourism. It serves as a basis for why we are immensely uneasy, anxious and fearful of the security condition of Bali.
Dr. Ashari and Noor Din Mohd Top, two Malaysians, who at all times bruited the brains behind the bombing at several places across Indonesia, are lost without a trace up to now. This factor as well drives and haunts our mind so that we feel uneasy, more anxious and fearful.
In the meantime, our reaction, especially that of government against the bomb is a reaction that tends to be clichéd. All officials thronged the location of bomb explosion to just show sympathy. High officials competed to express their ideas and critics. Then, instant meetings were held. Any result of them? It’s only appeal in order that all parties enhance their alertness, not to feel anxious, fearful and be provoked. Yeah, … they are only those very same things. Not more than that!
The police, as usual, did the chase and requested us to be more patient. Two principal fugitives—namely the Ashari and Noor Din Top—were always about to be captured, yet they on all occasion slipped out. When they both have escaped, the police flocked to the boarding house left by the two fugitives to interrogate the house owner like the accused.
It denoted the intolerance and temporary of sense of urgency. Narrow-minded and temporary as well constitute the character of problem resolution. Called narrow-minded because the solution is never focused and directed. And, it is said temporary because our surprise at the bomb merely lasts for a while. After a week, a month or a year passes, all will come to be natural at all. Since all come to be so, nearly all serious problems are suspended. When the bombs exploded all people talked about bomb and forget the others. When the aviary influenza spread out, all people shouted about it. And when the bomb and aviary influenza were not completely resolved, they automatically added up the list of suspended problems.
Without underestimating the problems about bomb, aviary influenza and the like, the character of problem resolution should not blow hot and cold. Because, other than problems mentioned above, this country still has abundant other problems. Assuredly, these are extremely apprehensive, too.
As a manifestation of such apprehensions, THK Tourism Awards Organizing Committee comes up with a number of suggestions to the Government of Bali Province and all regencies or municipality across Bali. What are they? To learn more, simply read them in our upcoming edition. (BTN/B. Ashrama)