Cultural immersion is one of the most popular reasons why tourists travel to Bali. The island is home to a truly unique culture, and whether tourists are visiting for a classic beach vacation or a cultural retreat, the generosity of the Balinese people is hard to beat.
One of the most popular and accessible ways to experience Balinese culture authentically is to visit a tourism village. Perhaps the most famous tourism village in Bali is Penglipuran Village, since it won the UN World Tourism Organisation’s Best Tourism Village in the World award multiple times.
Other famous tourism villages include Taro Village, home to Bali’s sacred white cows, as well as Munduk, Sidemen, and Pemuteran, which is one of the most up-and-coming destinations in Bali…you heard it here first!
The Badung Regency Government has confirmed that it will be developing five new tourism villages in the region in 2026. Badung Regency is home to top destinations, including Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, and Uluwatu.
The Head of the Tourism Destination Division of the Badung Tourism Office, I Gede Made Sukayasa, has told reporters that development will be carried out in five tourist villages: Kapal Tourism Village, Petang Tourism Village, Munggu Village, Bongkasa Pertiwi Village, and Pangsan Village. These five villages are among the eighteen total tourist villages in Badung Regency.
Sukayasa told reporters, “This year, we are improving the infrastructure of five villages in accordance with the leadership’s vision and mission. Almost all of these activities are a continuation of previous years’ infrastructure deficiencies.” One of the top development projects at the start of the year will be the completion of the Siat Tipat Statue in the Kapal Tourism Village.
He explained, “The construction of the Siat Tipat statue, located in front of the Wantilan Village in Kapal, was based on input from last year’s Village Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbangdes). We are currently exploring the design to ensure it is ideal and in keeping with local wisdom.”
Sukayasa noted the new statue is important as a symbol and tourism identity for Kapal Village. The Siat Tipat tradition is part of the Aci Tabuh Rah Pengangon ceremony, which is held annually by the local community, specifically on the full moon of Sasih Kapat.
The tradition is also included in the official Badung Regency tourism event calendar. The new monument is expected to strengthen the appeal of culture-based tourism.
He added, “Just as Munggu Village already had a monument related to tradition and local wisdom, with its Mekotek monument, we’re building the same thing in Kapal Village.”
Munggu Village is perhaps the most established of these new tourism villages. Sukayasa explained, “For Munggu, we are designing further supporting facilities, such as a park and a creative economy space, if funding is sufficient.”
Munggu Village is also being treated as a Cultural Park. Though notably smaller than the GWK Cultural Park, there are hopes that Munggu Village can bring together the tourism village feel, with the bigger GWK tourist attraction level quality.
There is a lot for tourists to look forward to in these developing tourism villages, both in terms of access improvements and improvements in tourism programming. Sukayasa confirmed that in the Petang Tourism Village, access to the stunning twin waterfalls will be made both safer and easier.
He explained that Wayan Adi Arnawa has confirmed that he and his teams have been working in collaboration with Munggu Tourism Village to create the new Mekotek Park.
Regent Arnawa told reporters, “The construction of this monument aligns with Badung’s vision of creating quality tourism and is a concrete manifestation of preserving traditions, arts, and culture.”
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