Balancing Development and Sustainability in Tourism Destinations

Abstract

Local sense of place refers to the emotional and reciprocal relationship between the residents of a community and the environment they inhabit. It is fundamental to cultural sustainability, especially after a place is exposed to tourism. This paper derives from a digital ethnography that examines the reconstruction of place identity by local community in desa adat Kuta, a Balinese customary village, which is also a popular beach destination in Bali, Indonesia. The local residents’ contemporary expressions with regard to sense of place were analyzed from the local community’s social media (Facebook group). This study adopts discourse analysis to identify the recovery of the indigenous characteristics of Kuta and Balinese values expressed by the inhabitants, despite the challenge of living in a tourist destination. The findings suggest that the indigenous community has a significant role in maintaining the traditions, identity, values, and esteem of their village, according to desa adat Kuta. Concomitantly, the identities of the people of Kuta are being (re)-constructed from their local emotional attachments with their village. Further, the residents also leverage tourism development to enhance their livelihood and to contribute to their identity formation. The study’s conclusion has an important implication, particularly for advancing existing cultural tourism pol- icy, by suggesting the incorporation of local sense of place in tourism planning and development in Bali.