Affinity tourism and exotic tourism in Bali. The Chinese and Indian tourist gaze in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park

Abstract

The island of Bali and its cultural heritage have been inseparably entwined with the global tourism industry. In recent years, outbound tourism from India and China to Bali has skyrocketed, but very few studies examine this important development. This article uses the concepts of ‘affinity tourism’ and ‘exotic tourism’ to discuss and analyse the contemporary relationship between the large Chinese and Indian tourism influx and the different historical and cultural layers that constitute the Asian tourist gaze towards Balinese cultural hotspots. In particular, the article concentrates on Bali's newest tourist attraction, the recently unveiled Garuda Wisnu Statue in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in south Bali, to examine the cultural touristic experiences for Indian and Chinese tourists visiting this site. It shows that Bali’s cultural heritage and its representations have many different historical and religious roots, and do not necessarily generate the same enthusiasm or feelings of cultural similarity and affinity for all Asian tourists.