Tourism Villages Need Stronger Protection, Expert Says

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Sade Traditional Village fire in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on August 22, 2026, highlights cultural heritage vulnerabilities. Speaking on VOI Talk broadcast on Tuesday, September 1, Amol Titus, CEO of IndonesiaWISE, said stronger protection is needed to safeguard Indonesia’s tourism villages from disasters.

Titus, who is an international expert in sustainable and inclusive development, described Sade as an iconic destination that has preserved Sasak traditions, local customs, artifacts, and cultural practices since 1980. He said these cultural elements represent valuable information and should be regarded as national assets requiring careful protection.

Titus emphasized that cultural heritage can also become globally significant when destinations receive international recognition, awards, or heritage designations. Such recognition, he said, creates broader responsibility because these destinations become valuable assets shared by humanity around the world.

He stressed that government authorities have a responsibility to ensure culturally significant tourism destinations receive additional protection against disasters. Once heritage villages or irreplaceable cultural assets are destroyed, Titus warned, their original character cannot be fully restored.

“So I think there is a responsibility by the government to say that this asset, this particular destination has to be preserved with extra care. Because once these destinations or these types of villages get wiped out, the loss is permanent. It's not going to come back,” he said.

Titus added that safety and accident prevention should become top priorities, regardless of whether incidents result from human or environmental causes. While experts should determine the causes, he urged authorities to strengthen preventive measures and ensure similar incidents never happen again.

He compared heritage protection with safeguarding valuable possessions, saying cultural and environmental assets deserve equally strong security and preventive measures. Titus urged stakeholders to use technology and smart approaches to protect heritage, particularly within tourism destinations vulnerable to disasters.

He said protecting cultural heritage requires commitment to ensuring future generations can experience these irreplaceable cultural treasures and traditions. For Titus, preserving tourism villages means protecting not only destinations, but also the history and identity they represent.