2010 Arts festival to uphold island’s tradition of cultural tourism.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
The 32nd Annual Bali Arts festival is scheduled for June 12th to July 10th with daily performances, cultural activities, a handicraft exhibition and some commercial activities, all geared towards sustaining a cultural theme to the island’s tourism.
This approach stems from a long tradition of ‘pariwisata budaya’ – a Balinese term coined in 1965 when the locals decided that any plan to develop tourism should include an emphasis on ‘cultural tourism’.
"Tourism should be for Bali instead of Bali for tourism”, was the consensus among locals before tourism transformed the island from the mid 1960s onwards, and the 2010 month long event aims to continue that tradition by benefiting locals through cultural and artistic expression, drawing on traditional music, dance and handicrafts to earn a living.
The hotel industry, which thrives on this paradise island, recognises the unique cultural appeal of the island in drawing tourists. They benefit directly from the arts festival because it brings in the crowds. They also help sustain the island’s cultural heritage by drawing on its unique architecture and landscaping creativity when building resorts.
“Bali is one of our biggest sellers, and we always notice an upswing in hotel bookings during the Arts Festival, so we recognise the importance that culture brings to the island’s appeal”, says Lek Boonlert of Southeast Asian based hotel booker DirectRooms.com.
“There’s something special about Bali hotels that make them a favourite among our website clients, it must be the cultural character of these resorts and their tropical gardens that make the stay so memorable”, he added.
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