Vanaprastha Tourism

Abstract

In the ever-evolving landscape of global tourism, destinations rich in cultural heritage face the dual challenges of maintaining their unique cultural identities while ensuring economic viability. Bali, known for its holistic traditions, spirituality, and natural beauty, epitomises this balance. Cultural tourism is crucial in preserving and promoting a region's unique heritage, ensuring the sustainability of cultural practices and traditions amidst various challenges. Resilience in cultural tourism empowers communities to protect their heritage from dilution or commodification, ensuring tourism development does not compromise cultural authenticity. However, scholars highlight the pervasive influence of commercialisation in recent tourism practices, which has subtly infiltrated Bali's tourism industry, leading to a shift from rich cultural heritage towards profit-driven ventures. Consequently, Bali's cultural tourism is starting to lose its prominence and relevance. This study aimed to explore and propose a sustainable and holistic form of tourism that can enhance the resilience of Bali's cultural tourism by examining the concept of Vanaprastha Tourism and its relevance to tourism and assessing the potential benefits of implementing Vanaprastha tourism in Bali. The research findings highlight the potential benefits of Vanaprastha tourism, including environmental conservation, cultural preservation, economic diversification, community empowerment, and enhanced well-being for both the host and visitors. The study highlights the importance of blending local wisdom, immersing in the culture, and practising sustainable methods in tourism, as shown by the Vanaprastha Tourism concept. This approach builds a new foundation, strengthens Bali's cultural tourism, and preserves its vibrant and authentic nature. Ultimately, it helps to support the island's economy, society, and environment in the long term.