PRESS RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 10^th WORLD WATER FORUM

NO.22/SP/TKM-WORLDWATERFORUM2024/04/2024

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10^th World Water Forum Delegates to Learn Jatiluwih Sustainable Tourism Concept

The government will promote efforts to develop sustainable tourism in the Jatiluwih tourism village in Bali as a model for the transition from quantity tourism to quality tourism.

It was stated by the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, in Bali on Saturday (27 April),

"We strongly support the efforts to develop Jatiluwih sustainable tourism because this is in line with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy's policy of shifting from quantity tourism to quality tourism," said Sandiaga.

Jatiluwih is chosen as a destination to be visited by delegates of the 10^th World Water Forum, the largest international water forum in the world, which will be held on 18-25 May 2024 in Nusa Dua, Bali.

The 10^th World Water Forum will serve as a golden opportunity for Indonesia to introduce its cultural diversity and tourism, especially in Bali, to the world, also how Indonesia protects and conserves its natural resources as part of the culture and source of life.

Jatiluwih was designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 2012. This village is a representation of Indonesia's future tourism development, namely sustainable tourism.

Famous for its subak system, Jatiluwih Village produces rice as its main agricultural commodity. Jatiluwih rice is the best red rice in the Bali region.

Subak is a traditional organization that regulates the irrigation system used in rice cultivation in Bali.

Uniquely, apart from selling it, local people also process brown rice into tea, which has health benefits, including helping to lose weight, maintaining blood sugar balance, lowering cholesterol, and serving as a source of antioxidants. This rice tea has been produced commercially and marketed in the Bali region.

In the future, the Jatiluwih rice field management will implement an organic farm concept, where 100% of the fertilizer used is natural fertilizer, for example, cow manure from local residents’ livestock. It is hoped that this will further increase the economic benefits received by the local community, while setting an example of the implementation of sustainable tourism for the more environmentally friendly practices.

It is also a form of community-based tourism, which involves local communities to work together in tourism development.

Jatiluwih Potential

Chairman of the DTW Jatiluwih tourism village, Ketut Purna Jhon, said that Jatiluwih is a privately owned tourist destination because the main attraction is the rice fields owned by many local farmers.

"So, we are trying to embrace local farmers to jointly support this big program because we cannot develop sustainable tourism in Jatiluwih alone. It requires participation of many parties, especially local farmers, to ultimately stimulate the local economy," said Purna.

His party also encourages the community to join in efforts to preserve the nature to maintain the sustainability and cleanliness of springs, one of which is by preserving local forests.

Jatiluwih tourism village has several activities to offer, including trekking while enjoying the beauty of the rice terrace or ring terrace, cycling, cooking demonstrations, and visits to coffee, avocado, and durian plantations.

According to Purna, to welcome the World Water Forum delegates, the Jatiluwih tourist village will be decorated with many penjors (Balinese Hindu religious symbol of prosperity shaped like a tall, decorated bamboo pole). Apart from that, the delegates will also be welcomed with the performance of atraditional Balinese dance, the Rejang Dance, accompanied by lesung (traditional mortar) music ensemble.

“If possible, we will also serve Jaje Laklak to World Water Forum delegates. Jaje Laklak is similar to serabi cake but made with brown rice," he said.

Apart from visiting Jatiluwih, delegates from the 10th World Water Forum are also invited to join the melukat procession, a tradition or ceremony carried out by the Hindus, especially in Bali.

Melukat is intended to purify the soul from bad things by using spring water as a medium. The term melukat comes from the word 'Sulukat', where 'Su' means good, and 'lukat' means 'purification'. So, in simple terms, melukat can be interpreted as good purification.

Basically, melukat aims to refresh the mind, predominantly carried out in the head area.

During the melukat process, participants in the melukat ceremony will be sprinkled with holy water to make the heart feel calmer and refresh the soul. (Firda Puri/TR/Elvira Inda Sari/WS/PR)

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For further information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320)

PCO of the 10^th World Water Forum - Dede Ariwibowo (08111830020)