The development process and the results are made possible by the generous funding support of the Government of Malaysia via the Malaysia Funds-in-Trust, through a project entitled ‘The Power of Culture: Supporting Community-Based Management and Sustainable Tourism at the World Heritage Sites in Malaysia and Southeast Asia,’ implemented by UNESCO Office, Jakarta. Other than the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, two other World Heritage Sites in the region are also pilot sites for the project and are developing similar strategy for their sites: ‘Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca’ in Malaysia, and ‘Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras’ in the Philippines.

UNESCO Office, Jakarta partnered with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, and Bali Provincial Government, including its related cultural and tourism offices, as well as the Planning and Development Agency (BAPPEDA). Local NGOs and other civil society organisations also partook in the development process of the strategy. 

It is hoped that the government and local communities will be able to work together holistically to implement the strategy toward a more sustainable and meaningful tourism experience that benefits the local communities, while also protects and safeguards the World Heritage Site.

I Putu Astawa, Head of BAPPEDA Bali expressed his gratitude on behalf of BAPPEDA to everyone for their contributions in the process of developing the strategy. He remarked that BAPPEDA, together with the support from central and regional government, as well as all stakeholders are ready to tackle future challenges to protect the values of the World Heritage Site.

Hilmar Farid, Director General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture elaborated on the various efforts done by the Ministry of Education and Culture in conserving the World Heritage Site. He wished that these results of the series of workshops and consultative meetings in 2015 and 2016 would provide guidance for the involved stakeholders in their efforts in safeguarding, interpreting, and sustaining the relevance of World Heritage within their communities and to the world.  

Arief Yahya, Minister of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism stated that this strategy is in line with their vision of national sustainable tourism: to integrate the environment, economy, and community. "The more we conserve, the more prosperous we are." Furthermore, Dadang Rizki Ratman, Deputy of Destination Development and Tourism Industry, added, "Through this strategy, we can achieve the vision of tourism development and management that safeguards and protects the authenticity of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province with its unique subak system based on the Tri Hita Karana philosophy and reflects a balanced conservation and sustainable tourism development."

Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Office, Jakarta joined the remarks by emphasizing the importance of communication and education to ensure correct interpretation and protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site. "We hope that the successful implementation of the strategy will make the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province a good practice model for other World Heritage Sites in the region."

Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, Secretary General of the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO added, "It is a great satisfaction to see the outcome of this collaborative work between various parties through the Malaysia UNESCO Cooperation Programme Malaysia Funds-in-Trust. These conjoined efforts, thoughts and knowledge have served its purpose to produce the principles and guidelines for a better management and longer term planning on core issues within World Heritage Sites. I hope that our efforts today also reflects our commitment and determination to work together, hand in hand. Together, we have learnt much and we thank all for that."

Publicity materials:

• Sustainable Tourism Strategy
  Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy
• Strategi Pariwisata Berkelanjutan
  Lanskap Budaya Provinsi Bali: Sistem Subak sebagai Manifestasi dari Filosofi Tri Hita Karana
• Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy
• The Power of Culture: Supporting Community-Based Management and Sustainable Tourism at World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia