Luxury resorts in Bali and 'authentic' culture: sustainability, ownership, and benefits for local communities

Luxury or performance: who really profits from „authentic” cultural experiences in luxury resorts in Bali

For decades, Bali has lived at the intersection of two stories: one of a tropical postcard that attracts millions of travelers, and another of a strong cultural identity that cannot be reduced to scenery. In recent years, luxury resorts and high-end hotels have increasingly built their offerings around „curated” cultural experiences, promising guests a sense of closeness to local customs, an emotional connection, and the impression that they have seen the „real” Bali. But as tradition moves into five-star itineraries, questions arise that go beyond marketing: where is the line between learning and commercialization, who has the right to define authenticity, and who, at the end of the day, receives the largest share of the value created when culture becomes a product.

For some travelers, this is also a practical planning issue. Demand for top-tier content is growing, and with it the interest in a wider range of locations—from the southern coastal zones to the interior. Those who travel for cultural programs often look for accommodation offers in Bali near temples, dance stages, galleries, and villages where rituals take place, because their goal is to avoid reducing „Bali” to a pool and a beach.

The tourism boom and the shift toward „quality”: the context without which there is no debate about authenticity

It is hard to discuss „authentic” experiences without numbers and tourism governance policy. According to Bali’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), 2025 saw a strong inflow of foreign visitors, and the total annual number of arrivals is measured in the millions, with the vast majority arriving via Ngurah Rai Airport. In its official tables, BPS also publishes monthly data, showing how tourism has become a system that „breathes” through waves of seasonality, flights, and global demand.

At the same time, the authorities are trying to steer visitor behavior and shape the tourism profile. The Balinese administration introduced a tourism levy for international visitors, explaining that the collected funds are used to preserve culture and the environment. In addition, the governor, through official guidelines for foreigners, further emphasized the obligation to respect local rules, customs, and sacred places. In practice, such measures are not mere bureaucratic details: they signal that Bali is aware of pressure on infrastructure, space, and social relations, and that it is trying to shift the focus from mere growth to manageable, more responsible spending.

In this environment, the luxury sector wants to be part of the solution and part of the story of „quality tourism”. But the question is how much of that is real change, and how much is a new label that sells well. For guests who choose accommodation close to event venues, amenities matter, but there are also more and more people seeking proof that their spending does not come at the expense of the local community.

How culture gets „packaged” in five-star settings: from experience to script

The „curated experiences” model relies on familiar tourism mechanisms. The guest is offered a story, a guide, and a carefully chosen moment: a private dance performance, a handicrafts workshop, a temple visit with an explanation of symbolism, a tasting of local cuisine, and even participation in rituals described in advertisements as „transformative”. The most successful programs sell not only information but emotion: a sense of privilege and the conviction that one took part in something „real”, not a show.

This is exactly where tension arises. Balinese culture is not a uniform performance that can be lifted out of context without consequences. It is part of social structure, religious obligations, local communities, and life cycles. UNESCO, in its materials on cultural heritage, warns that excessive commercialization of intangible heritage—especially when a practice is extracted from its original context—can, over the long term, change the practice itself. UN Tourism, in defining cultural tourism, emphasizes visitors’ motivation to learn, discover, and experience cultural attractions, but that framework also assumes responsible management and respect for hosts.

In other words, it is not controversial that tourists want to learn and experience. What is controversial is when „authenticity” begins to be treated as a performance that can be repeated at any time, with any group, simply because the guest wants it and can pay for it.

Authenticity as power: who defines what the „real” Bali is

The concept of authenticity in tourism often sounds like a neutral description, but in practice it is a power relationship. The one who sells the experience often assumes the right to define what is „original”, what is „traditional”, and what is „just touristy”. In the luxury segment, that relationship is further amplified: a high price creates an expectation of exclusivity, and exclusivity often means adapting the experience to the guest—even when it originally had a different purpose or rhythm.

In academic analyses of cultural tourism in Bali, the phenomenon of commodification has been described for years, whereby elements of culture are turned into goods for consumption. Some authors warn that this can weaken social ties and encourage superficial „acting out of tradition”, while others point out that tourism can also financially sustain artists, ensembles, and ritual practices—especially if the local community retains control and benefits.

At that point, the key question is ownership. When a resort hires performers, uses symbols, or organizes a tour of an „authentic village”, who has the final say over the content and the mode of presentation? Are artists and communities partners or subcontractors? Does the largest part of the value go to those who perform and those whose culture is being presented, or is it retained within the hotel chain and marketing channels?

What sustainability means when culture is part of the itinerary

In the tourism industry, sustainability is often reduced to environmental measures such as saving energy or replacing plastic. But in the context of „authentic” cultural experiences, sustainability also has a social dimension: fair distribution of benefits, protection of sacred spaces, and preservation of the meaning of practices. UNESCO’s inscription of Bali’s cultural landscape on the World Heritage List—linked to the subak system and the Tri Hita Karana philosophy—is often cited as an example of how nature, community, and spirituality are connected in a unique system. That system is not tourist decoration; it is the infrastructure of life and agriculture.

Yet it is precisely on that ground that the consequences of pressure are visible. In recent years, media and analysts have closely followed issues of overdevelopment, conversion of agricultural land, and government attempts to limit further construction in the most saturated zones. Some measures mention moratoriums or bans on new projects in certain areas, with the explanation that fields are being protected, traffic congestion reduced, and ecological risks mitigated. After severe floods and landslides reported by international media, public debate has intensified in particular about how urbanization and the loss of natural absorption surfaces can worsen the impacts of extreme rainfall.

At the same time, the waste problem remains stubborn. Waste-management initiatives, such as projects trying to establish collection and processing systems, have shown how complex it is to shift cost and responsibility from improvisation to functional public services. Associations involved in cleaning rivers and coastlines have become a visible part of the „fight for Bali”, but their presence also reminds us that the problem cannot be solved only through symbolic actions, but through systematic investment and enforcement of rules.

For luxury resorts, this is not a side topic. If the „authentic Bali” experience is sold through a story of harmony with nature, then the industry’s responsibility is greater and public expectations higher. There are more and more guests who are not looking only for an aesthetic impression, but also for a clear explanation of how the resort cooperates with the local community, how it pays performers, where „donation” money goes, and whether there are independent standards or programs that verify social impact.

Models that can reduce harm: from „folklore for guests” to partnership

Solutions are not simple, but in practice directions are recognized that reduce the risk of culture becoming a backdrop. Cultural tourism experts and international organizations emphasize several principles: the community must participate in decision-making, cultural practices should not be taken out of context without consent, and benefits should be measurable and fairly distributed. In practice, this means clear contracts with performers, transparent fees, investment in local arts schools and workshops, and programs in which the community sets boundaries: what can be shown, when, and under what conditions.

In that sense, „authenticity” can be understood less as a label and more as a process. Authentic is not what is most exotic, but what is presented with respect, with explanation, and without pressure for tradition to adapt to the schedule of pools, cocktails, and check-ins. If the guest is motivated by learning and understanding, it is then possible to organize encounters that do not trivialize: conversations with local guides, visits to communities with agreed rules of conduct, or programs that accept that there are parts of culture that are not „for tourists”.

For travelers, that also changes the way they plan. Those who want to explore the cultural side of the island often choose accommodation in Ubud and the surrounding area or other locations outside the most congested coastal zones, so that they have more time and space for content that is not „rushed”. But even then, it remains crucial to respect local rules, especially in sacred places and during ceremonies, because the „desire for experience” cannot be above the host’s dignity.

What a guest should ask before paying for an „authentic experience”

• Is the program organized in cooperation with the local community, and do the performers have control over the content?
• Is there a transparent explanation of fees, and does part of the revenue go into local cultural programs?
• Are rules of conduct and restrictions in sacred places respected, without pressure to „get a good shot”?
• Is the experience designed so that the practice is not extracted from its context, but the guest is explained the broader meaning?
• How does the resort manage water and waste, especially in areas where infrastructure is already under pressure?

Between market expectations and community boundaries: the future of „authentic Bali”

Bali will likely continue to be a global magnet for travelers, and the luxury segment will not give up on culture as a key differentiator. But precisely because of that, the debate about authenticity will become sharper. On one side stands the legitimate desire of travelers to understand the place they are visiting, and on the other the need for communities to retain control over their own symbols, rituals, and spaces. When that is combined with pressures of overdevelopment, waste, and resources, it becomes clear that „authentic” is not just a marketing description, but a matter of public policy and power relations.

In such circumstances, the most valuable models will be those that do not promise a „secret Bali” in a private time slot, but offer a fair, informed encounter with culture, with clear rules and clear benefits for local people. For guests planning a trip, that means the choice between luxury and responsibility does not have to be a contradiction, but it requires attention—from respecting local guidelines to deciding where to stay and how to participate in experiences that are not there just to be photographed.

Sources:

• - BPS-Statistics Indonesia (Bali Province) – official tables and releases on monthly and annual foreign visitor arrivals (link)
• - Love Bali (Bali Provincial Government) – tourism levy for international visitors and information on its purpose (link)
• - Love Bali (Bali Provincial Government) – guidelines for foreign tourists’ conduct (Circular Letter SE No. 7/2025) (link)
• - UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Bali’s cultural landscape (Subak) and description of its link to Tri Hita Karana (link)
• - UNESCO World Heritage Centre – document on the sustainable tourism strategy for the Subak site (link)
• - UN Tourism – definition and framework of cultural tourism (link)
• - The Guardian – reports on construction moratoriums/restrictions and pressures of mass tourism on Bali (link)
• - The Guardian – analysis of plastic-management challenges and how recycling initiatives function in Bali (link)
• - Alliance to End Plastic Waste / Project STOP – description of the waste management system project in Jembrana (link)
• - UNESCO – guidelines on the risks of excessive commercialization of intangible heritage in tourism (Urban Solutions, 2025) (link)