Tourism is the Key to Badung’s Future Development

MORE LUXURIOUS hotels are on the cards, to attract upmarket vacationers.

By far the wealthiest and most developed of Bali’s eight regencies, Badung boasts the majority of the island’s beaches and resorts, as well as the international airport at Ngurah Rai. The tourism industry supplies about 80 percent of Badung’s income, of which 30 percent is redistributed to other less well-off regencies on the island.

Shaped like a blade, wedged in the center of Bali, Badung is only 159.4 sq miles in size, but 327,250 people – 10 percent of the island’s total population – live there. The municipal authority is in the capital city, Denpasar.
In compliance with the state objective, spiritual and material development must be in harmony. Badung’s five-year plan has divided the regency into three development territories.

North Badung, which includes the districts of Petand and Abiansemal and is centered on Blahkiuh, is devoted to agricultural development. Central Badung, which covers Mengwi district, prioritizes food crops and home-based handicrafts, plus the development of services and small-to-medium sized industries. South Badung focuses on tourism, education and commercial development.

NGURAH OKA RATMADI Regent of Badung

Ngurah Oka Ratmadi, the Regent of Badung, says: “We would like to see Badung, or Bali, as the second Singapore, besides a leading tourist destination in the world, and we also want it to be a center of commerce. But, to implement this plan, we badly need support from foreign investors.”
The regency of Badung is offering a number of key investment opportunities and incentives. Mr. Ratmadi explains: “We have made a master-plan (RUTR) and a detailed space-plan (RDTR) so that potential investors can easily get a clear idea of the opportunities here. We have made approaches to countries and got to know their technology, and we have increased the quality of our human resources to match the incoming investment.

“We have increased the skills of our people, particularly in hotel and restaurant management and other tourism services. Bali is a safe and peaceful destination for tourists and investors. We would like to see Badung become a center of commerce as well as the center of information about Indonesian tourism throughout the world,” adds Mr. Ratmadi.
Many big international hotel chains already have a presence in Badung, such as Inter-Continental, Four Seasons, Sheraton and Carlton. A number of Indonesian companies from the other islands have established offices, particularly those which are able to operate away from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Mr. Ratmadi says: “We have a simple procedure for the licensing of businesses and we have zoned those areas suitable for tourism development.”

POPULAR PURSUITS popular pursuits in Badung regency include surfing on fabulous beaches and taking a sea plane to Komodo National Park, which contains active volcanoes and an estimated 5,700 dragons.

The regent wants to drive up the already high standards in the industry to attract more upmarket tourists. “We need more sophisticated and luxurious hotels. Facilities could be developed by investors directly or through joint ventures,” he says.
“Certainly, we need investors to expand the airport and to build better roads. We hope that they can come up with some interesting projects and talk to our local authorities,” he adds.
Although there are plans to develop more commerce, tourism remains the main source of income for the Balinese. A popular destination for vacationers for more than half a century, Bali typifies the idyll of a tropical island with glorious beaches and warm seas.

Visitors can be assured of a warm welcome, which Mr. Ratmadi attributes to the Hindu concept of Tri Hita Karana – the Three Harmonies Relationship between people, God and the environment.
The Balinese maintain many of their ancient traditions and visitors will discover a rich and vibrant cultural life throughout the year. The island’s biggest gathering is the month-long Bali Art Festival in June-July, now in its 24th year, which attracts a million tourists annually.

Every temple and shrine has a special date for a yearly ceremony every 210 days, accompanied by dancing, which means that every few days there is some kind of ceremony or festival on the island. Pura Taman Ayun is one of Bali’s most picturesque temples. The former royal temple of Pura Sadha Kapal is famous for its decorative carvings.
By sea plane from Bali, tourists can visit the famous 289.5 sq mile Komodo National Park. The World Heritage site boasts marine areas, mangrove forest, active volcanoes and some 5,700 komodo dragons.
Badung’s surfing beaches, such as Kuta, will appeal to the adventurous. Tourists can also go river rafting, hike through lush green tropical landscapes or take part in traditional kite-flying.