C.Bali Works with Locals to Promote Sustainable Tourism

Bali, Indonesia, January 12, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Currently up to 400 trucks a day pass through these small villages delivering sand from the lava fields of the still active volcano Mt Batur to the South of Bali. The sand is used for the building of roads and hotels; to keep up with the ever growing number of visitors to this Island. These trucks leave behind a trail of destruction, rubbish, damage to the roads and diesel fumes that leave the farmers crops covered in a blanket of black dust. Respiratory problems amongst the Villagers are growing and despite the removal of sand from the area being illegal the truck numbers increase everyday to keep up with the demand in the South of Bali.

C.Bali tours are Tour Company that takes personal educational day tours into this area, no more than 6 people in one day; guests are generally those that want to learn more about the Balinese culture, their gods, and their beliefs. The tours are held under the direction of the Villagers and include canoeing on the ‘holy lake’ Lake Batur and bicycling through the Villagers. The Villagers show their appreciation to the guests by opening their doors to the groups, sometimes offering them a cup of tea and showing them their family temple. Once an area with a reputation of being aggressive, people that closed their doors to strangers, C.Bali’s sustainable tourism approach is working well and bringing together tourists and locals harmoniously.

C.Bali Canoeing and Cycling Tours were born over 4 years ago from the Western founders, a Dutch & Australian husband and wife living in this small remote village in the region of Bangli (Bangli is one of the original Kingdoms of Bali) for 2 years. After learning so much from these people about true happiness the couple did not want to leave. The couple wanted to give back to the Villagers, but how to do this was unknown at first as the Villagers are hard working farmers and are not driven by money.

It is true that all people have a different scale of measuring happiness, but the people of the small Island of Bali work every day for balance, happiness, harmony, love, God, their ancestors, it’s not an easy task and not a cheap one by any means, but when you look at the faces and hear the laughter of the children in the villages then you share in something special.

C.Bali now work towards building the capacity of the village, by offering 100% free schooling so future generations have the confidence to be heard. Recently this husband and wife team has regular meetings with government representatives of the region on behalf of the Villagers to have their’ voice heard; and the message is clear: they do not want ‘the new Kuta’ in their area. There are no nightclubs, no beaches, no shopping, no cocktails, and no massages, nothing the stereotypical tourist to Bali comes to Bali for and that is how they would like it to remain. Yet the affects of all of these are evident by the environmental impact tourism for the future of the South has on the future of the North of Bali.

C.Bali has just launched new overnight tours so that guests can stay in the village and experience the magic of the village themselves. Guests can choose from either a 1 Night or 2 Night Tour and have an option of climbing the volcano and seeing this magnificent area from birds-eye view. Some of the proceeds of the tours go towards the school and other sustainable projects in the village.

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