Bali News

A resort built in community approach which has just been initiated at Banjar Bayad, Kedisan Village, Tegalalang, Gianyar, could be the first of its kind in Bali or even Indonesia. More than Bayad Eco Resort, the project also included Bali Eco Adventure, and Bayad Eco Agriculture.

I Ketut Sunarta, a veteran who has spent 15 years in the best and the worst of Bali tourism industry, who currently serves as the official village administrator of Bayad, has been the pioneer of the initiative and now serves as the General Manager. Instead of surrendering his one hectare land to investors like most Balinese land owners, he initiate cooperation in togetherness and community spirit by inviting a number of investors to build accommodation facility on the land. The land itself features unique topology with steep valley and offer comfortable climate and full of tropical trees.

Along with his four investors, Sunarta has completed ten buildings including a spa and two bar lounges. Each accommodation building houses two bedrooms in two floors boasting the valley views and maximizing soothing tropical breeze.

Prioritizing environmental sustainability, Bali Eco Adventure offers a 2.5 kilometers long trekking track in 20 hectars land owned by 34 local farmers. The project consultant which also one of the investors, Peter Studer, said that the management is still opening opportunity to investor candidates to build two more buildings which is projected to cost about US$ 40,000 each.

Sunarta’s community management was designed to promote harmonious relationship by sweeping aside any differential aspects. “The essence is that we want to build harmonious interpersonal relationship among us as human beings, regardless of their origin”, Sunarta said. In his community management concept, investors is entitled to use their units for 100 days per year. The contract was set to 25 years with extension option.

The resort area is planned to get another one hectare extension to support Bayad Eco Agriculture. The land will be allocated for husbandry, vegetable farming, and local fruit cultivation. Sunarta exposed that at the moment they have more than 500 agricultural species ranging from fruits and vegetables to medicine herbs and spices.

Surrounding community was involved in security. Every night 10 pecalang (Balinese traditional guardians) patrols both the resort and surrounding areas to ensure continuous conducive situation. “These stuffs has always been neatly stored there, no one steal them”, Sunarta said pointing to valuable things stored in a glass cabinet at an open pavilion.

In its communal approach, profit is distributed equally related to contribution of each stakeholders, 50% for the investors, 30% for the land owner, and 10% each for local villagers and social purposes.

For those who are interested in eco tourism but prefer a more luxurious accommodation option, Peter Studder, the consultant and investor of the project owns three luxurious Bali villas each with private swimming pool located at Saba, a quiet coastal village located about half an hour drive from Bayad.