Tourism impacts on the culture of Bali

With the need to improve the economic welfare of the people, the government decided to develop cultural tourism, yet there were no concerns at the time with any type of cultural impact assessment. 

As a result, there has been a commercialization of Balinese culture to meet the tourist demands. Sacred temples are overcrowded by foreigners; dances normally performed only every 60 years are now requested and organized by hotels on a weekly basis; many masks, costumes and jewellery used for religious rituals are in great demand in antique shops, and thus handicraft workshops are promoted to produce copies. 

However, most locals feel that their culture is staying alive and well despite the influences from tourists. Tourism is a major source of support for dancers, musicians and artists on the island. 
The belief that a divine audience is present at performances intended for the Balinese acts as a guarantee for the preservation of traditional values, whereas performances designed for visitors have a commercial purpose and lack religious meaning. In this respect, the presence of tourists, far from diminishing the importance or quality of performances intended for divine and Balinese audiences, helps to improve their presentation, through the monetary rewards brought in by commercial shows. Thus traditional performances provide a sense of authenticity to the tourist shows. Tourists’ presence did not induce the Balinese to substitute new roles for the existing ones, but on the contrary, drove them to add original roles to their traditional repertoire.

Culture needs change, not seclusion, to survive. Balinese culture accepts influences from other cultures, modifying and transforming them, making a new art but always based on the old Balinese forms. The Balinese have accepted new forms and styles of arts introduced by foreigners. Even though some crafts and ancient dances are dying out, like bone and horn carvings and terracotta figures, new arts are being adopted, such as batik from Java, furniture styles, woodcarvings and masks.

Beggars are now very common. Beach vendors are pervasive and a nuisance. Some of the best sawahs have been replaced by art shops hoping to profit from tourism. Prostitutes are in evidence, especially in Kuta. 

Cultural changes in Bali Aga

When tourism started developing rapidly in Bali, several means of access to the villages has negatively affected the vulnerable Bali Aga people. Living as farmers or fishermen, the standard of living among the Bali Aga people are relatively low, compared to most Balinese living in modern civilisation. The value of money, introduced by visitors, has changed their way of life almost completely.

References:

http://balicarholiday.com/trunyan.php

http://www1.american.edu/ted/balitour.htm

http://www.kuveni.de/cultural%20tourism%20bali.pdf