Balinese people are known to be very religious and spiritual people. Their devotion to their religion and faith is an example that deserves to be emulated by people in the rest of the world. And because of this, tourists, especially the foreign ones, have come to realize that Bali is a place worthy of becoming a spiritual tourism destination.
Bali, the island of the gods in Indonesia, now no longer boasts just of its luxury villas in Bali and Bali villas resort. It is also now the newest destination for spiritual tourism.
According to Bagus Sudibya, deputy chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies in Bali (ASITA Bali), travel agents have consistently received itinerary requests for spiritual tourism.
“Most of the groups are from Australia, the US, Japan and Europe. They usually regularly do activities like yoga or meditation,” he said.
Of the total population of travel agents in Bali, 10 percent have already begun organizing such spiritual tour packages. And about 5 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals in Bali avail of these packages.
According to their records, a travel agent is able to handle about three or four groups of people every month who engage in spiritual tourism.
“This shows that spiritual tourism has potential to be developed in Bali, and most importantly, it could contribute to improving conditions in Bali as this kind of tourism is more qualified than mass tourism,” added Sudibya.
It was also noted that secluded and quiet places are the target venues of tourists on spiritual tours. Also, at times, it is they who select the specific venues and the travel agents only facilitate the tour.
The Balinese people see this as a positive thing because aside from the private villas in Bali being filled with guests, the guests also are not patronizing sex and other bad activities on the island.
Bali, the island of the gods in Indonesia, now no longer boasts just of its luxury villas in Bali and Bali villas resort. It is also now the newest destination for spiritual tourism.
According to Bagus Sudibya, deputy chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies in Bali (ASITA Bali), travel agents have consistently received itinerary requests for spiritual tourism.
“Most of the groups are from Australia, the US, Japan and Europe. They usually regularly do activities like yoga or meditation,” he said.
Of the total population of travel agents in Bali, 10 percent have already begun organizing such spiritual tour packages. And about 5 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals in Bali avail of these packages.
According to their records, a travel agent is able to handle about three or four groups of people every month who engage in spiritual tourism.
“This shows that spiritual tourism has potential to be developed in Bali, and most importantly, it could contribute to improving conditions in Bali as this kind of tourism is more qualified than mass tourism,” added Sudibya.
It was also noted that secluded and quiet places are the target venues of tourists on spiritual tours. Also, at times, it is they who select the specific venues and the travel agents only facilitate the tour.
The Balinese people see this as a positive thing because aside from the private villas in Bali being filled with guests, the guests also are not patronizing sex and other bad activities on the island.
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