A Room with A View and a View with a Price Tag

(11/13/2010)

NusaBali and Bali Post confirms that 12 hotels along the Ayung River, situated between the villages of Melinggih in the sub-district of Payangan and Sayan, are paying "view rental fees" to their surrounding traditional communities. The "fees" paid by the hotels range between Rp, 100,000 (US$11) and Rp. 3.5 million (US$380) per month.

The head of the Gianyar regencies tourism service, I Wayan Dirgayusa, told NusaBali that he rejected public statement made by "certain individuals" claiming that hotels and villas in the western region of Ubud make no financial contribution to the indigenous populations of Bongkasa and nearby areas. Fueled on by the accusations of no financial contribution, Dirgayusa dispatched an official team to 12 separate hotel and villa in West Ubud and Payangan to survey the actual cash contributions paid to local communities.

The results of the survey of "view rental fees" accumulated by Dirgayusa's team as reported by NusaBali:

1. Four Seasons Resort at Sayan - Paid to Tanggayuda - Rp. 3.5 million/month (US$380)

2. Como Shambhala Estate - Paid to Angunan – Rp. 1 million/month (US$109)

3. Amandari - Paid to Tegal Kuning – Rp. 1.5 million/month (US$163)

4. The Royal Pita Maha - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 2.5 million/month (US$272)

5. Kupu-Kupu Barong - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 1.25 million/month (US$136)

6. Cahaya Dewata - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 750,000/month (US$82)

7. Puri Bunga - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 150,000/month (US$16.50)

8. Puri Bayu - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp.100,000/month (US$10.90)

9. Villa Indah - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 150,000/month (US$16.50)

10. Villa Melati - Paid to Adat Karang Dalem II/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 100,000/month (US$10.90)

11. Alila Ubud - Paid to Karang Dalem I/Bongkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 400,000/month (US$43.50)

12. Puri Wulandari - Paid to Karang Dalem I/Bonkasa Pertiwi – Rp. 500,000/month (US$54.50)

Dirgayusa has conveyed the results of his survey to the Badung Regency Tourism Service as proof that local communities are receiving cash compensation from the hotels and villas located within their communities. Dirgayusa did not dismiss that the amounts paid by the tourism enterprises may subject to an upward revision in the future.

Disgruntled villagers demanding cash compensation from tourism accommodation providers have often resorted in the past to extreme coercive measures to demand payments from hotels, including the installation of aluminum panels to shine bright reflective light into guests' rooms, the exploion of of home-made firecracker and unattractive tableuxs along the banks of the river- all intended to unsettle guests and force hotels to pay the demanded "river view fees."