Bali : Twenty Years of Research
This article draws the lessons of twenty years of research on the implications of tourism in Bali. The intellectual itinerary of the author, the progress in the anthropological study of the social and cultural impact of tourism on host societies, and fluctuations in the attitude of the Balinese people confronted with the touristification of their society, are presented in a synoptic manner. At the conclusion of this research, it is clear that tourism neither “polluted” Balinese culture nor kindled its “renaissance”, contrary to the opinions pervading the debates on this question. In fact, the decision to promote “cultural” tourism convinced the Balinese that they “have a culture”, something that is both precious and perishable, and which they are in risk of losing. Thus it is that the Balinese, enjoined to represent their culture in reference to the outside world’s view of them, have come to search for confirmation of their cultural identity in the mirror held to them by the tourists.