Bali Developing 11 Tourist Village Sites

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The Bali provincial administration is developing 11 tourist villages in eight districts in an effort to improve the welfare of the rural communities.

"The village sites can improve the economy in rural areas, and therefore, can minimize urbanization and alleviate poverty," Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office Anak Agung Gede Yuniartha Putra noted here on Tuesday.

The tourist villages to be developed in 2016 are Pemuteran in Buleleng district, Batuagung in Jembrana district, Tua and Sudimara in Tabanan district, Pangsan in Badung district, Singapadu Tengah in Gianyar district, Bakas in Klungkung district, Trunyan and Suter in Bangli district, and Antiga and Muntigunung in Karangasem district.

"All the tourist villages will be developed into natural tourist sites, which are different from the earlier ones. These tourist villages also offer cultural tourism, agrotourism, and ecotourism," Yuniartha explained.

The Bali provincial administration is targeting to develop 100 tourist villages by 2018. So far, the province has 42 tourist villages.

The developed villages offer unique tourist attractions in line with the local potentials.

"For instance, a village, with paddy fields, showcases paddy farming activities in addition to their rituals," he remarked.

Yuniartha noted that the Penglipuran village in Bangli district was adjudged the best national tourist village and will compete at the ASEAN level. (WDY)