THK and Hotels (13)
Transform the Ambivalent Perspective

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.

Our discourse, attitude and behaviour towards tourism in Bali for this time is still affected by non-compactness and even indicates tendency that more predominantly directs to perspective ambivalence—disapproving, blaspheming and blaming one another. Aside from indicating the insufficiency of our understanding on tourism issues, this perspective concurrently proves the insubstantiality of implementation of togetherness principles. If this perspective is let flourish wildly, it possibly expands to political domain that leads to disharmonization. This disharmony is, by and large, progressively getting more serious if response of the ‘personal’ of government officials and public figures go emotionally and irrationally.
It’s the time for the Balinese or whoever lives and earns his living in Bali to transform the thinking pattern by indicating the postulation of sincerity and frankness. Such ambivalent attitude and perspective needs transforming into realistic, consistent and transparent thinking pattern.
During these days, tourism indeed the most frequently blamed, however, it’s no less infrequently praised and applauded. Many parties hate and no less ones who love it. Very often, it’s insulted and no less infrequently praised and eulogized.
When the physical environment is damaged, spatial layout in disorder, cultural, aesthetical and spiritual element interfered with, in the twinkling of an eye, an accuse will be blamed on the tourism sector. ‘These all are effected by tourism. If there is no tourism, Bali will assuredly more established, forceful and tenacious.’ Hoarse voices as these are not only shouted by public ‘figure’ who happens not to get involved in tourism sector but also by government officials. This obviously indicates the insufficiency of knowledge and understanding of the officials on tourism and even it does not draw to the possibility that it is also caused by a priori attitude and the ego of the personal officials.
Amusingly, as soon as having a talk on economic growth, on gross regional domestic product (GRDP), on business and job opportunity Bali is faced with remarkably restricted options. In the midst of such restrictedness, tourism looks the most distinct. Why? Because this Bali is so bijou, lacks of natural resources and densely populated on the one hand, while tourism has, nothing more can be done, dominated people’s economy on the other hand.
Within the last three decades, sector of tourism service has contributed some 70-80% of Bali’s GRDP—previously, in 1971 only amounted to 33%. Agricultural sector that in 1971 and previously contributed 60% to make up the GRDP, during the last 30 years did some 20% and industrial sector 10% (previously, in 1971 made only 7%). Contribution to the growth of Bali’s GRDP was adequately high: tourism (3%), industry (3.4%) and agriculture (1.7%).
These data indicate that tourism sector has huge influence to the economy of Balinese people. Any slight disturbances happen to this sector, it automatically shakes and affects the economy of the Balinese. Similarly, its echo goes globally.
The most concrete examples still humming in our ears are the post-Bali Bomb I and II that make the Bali tourism collapsed. Its impact is not only undergone by hotelier, restaurateur or art shop, travel bureau owner and the like, but also by farmer, breeder, gardener, craftsman and so forth, either in urban or rural area and they all scream awfully. Even, the bran vendor shrieks, too.
The bran vendor shrieks sorrowfully because the order from the chicken breeder has been discontinued. Then, chicken breeder terminates the purchase of his bran because the order of chicken flesh from the agent decreased. Flesh agent reduced its purchase because its order from restaurant or bistro is slow moving. Restaurant or bistro is slow moving since fewer tourists visit Bali. Similar situation is also experienced by vegetable and fruit farmers, egg and flower vendors, and the like.
Indeed, the speediest screaming is apparently heard in the employee’s circle of hotel and restaurant, travel agent and tour guide since they lie in the ring-1 (circle 1) of tourism services. Then, it hampers to ring-2 (art shop attendant, vendor at art market, art craftsmen, vegetable, egg and flesh vendors); ring-3 (carvers, painters and the like); the next ring is the hotel and restaurant tax drops and goes on.
On that account, it’s the time for the Balinese and all people who live and earn their living in Bali to stop the ambivalent perspective on tourism. Option to maintain the development and sustainability of tourism sector is not only appropriate but has also become a duty of entire components of Bali mentioned above, namely government (public sector), businessmen (private sector) and the community. (BTN/B. Ashrama)