Les Village Bali Showcases Sustainable Community Tourism

RRI.CO.ID, Buleleng - Les Village, located in the Buleleng Regency of North Bali, Bali Province, has emerged as a premier blueprint for sustainable, community-based tourism development. The village's growth model successfully fuses local economic empowerment with targeted environmental conservation and the strict preservation of traditional Balinese culture.

Since joining the Astra Prosperous Village (Desa Sejahtera Astra/DSA) program in 2024, Les Village has optimized its diverse assets, spanning coastal territory, agricultural land, and community-driven natural attractions. The developmental programs have directly impacted more than 800 local residents.

Astra Chief of Corporate Affairs Boy Kelana Soebroto emphasized that modern rural development must strike a harmonious balance between financial growth and cultural endurance.

"Through the Desa Sejahtera Astra program, we believe that village development should not only drive economic growth. It must also maintain a balance between progress, environmental sustainability, and the cultural identity owned by the community," Boy Said.

Les Village features a varied landscape containing hills, fertile farms, and coastal lines that yield marine catches and traditional sea salt. This terrain has been repurposed into eco-tourism hubs offering beach excursions, waterfall treks, and community-led outdoor activities.

Beyond tourism, the community has introduced vital public programs. In the healthcare sector, local workers manage specialized initiatives to support maternal and child health, including regular Posyandu clinics, pregnancy education, and nutritional food distribution for children experiencing stunting or malnutrition.

Concurrently, educational programs focus on youth capacity-building, providing English language training and professional hospitality workshops. This educational foundation is designed to foster a skilled generation of local tour guides equipped to serve international travelers.

Environmental conservation serves as a core pillar of the village's identity. Residents participate in coral reef transplantation and community-led waste management, which includes manufacturing organic fertilizer from household waste. By sorting waste at the household level, villagers convert organic garbage into compost for local gardens and commercial sales, generating an alternative economic stream.

In the commercial sector, the community maintains its ancestral methods of traditional salt production. This heritage salt serves as one of the village's signature products, distributed directly through the Giri Segara Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes).

These combined local efforts have generated substantial socioeconomic improvements. The DSA program documented a 25 percent increase in average community income, alongside the creation of new local jobs and expanded market distribution for regional goods.

As a result of these sustainable achievements, Les Village secured the Grand Champion (Juara Umum) title at the 2024 Indonesian Tourism Village Awards (ADWI), organized by the Ministry of Tourism. The national accolade highlights the success of rural tourism models that prioritize economic stability, ecological health, and community leadership. (Naura Sofia-EN)