Volume #2
Choosing alternative destinations | Sustainable conscious travel options in Bali, Indonesia
This week’s read time: 7 minutes
In this volume, we’ll explore:
Why you should choose alternative destinations
Sustainable Conscious Options in Bali, Indonesia:
🏨 Hotel: Sarinbuana Eco Lodge
🍴 Restaurant: Warung Goûthé
🎒Tours & Experiences: Five Pillar Experiences
👉🏼 Choose Alternative Destinations
What’s in it for travellers?
Fewer Crowds: Choosing alternative destinations often means escaping overcrowded tourist spots. You will be able to explore at your own pace, without the stress of large crowds and queues. And we all know, less crowds = better Instagram & Tiktok ;)
Cost Savings: Less visited destinations often offer more budget-friendly options compared to heavily touristed areas. You’ll get to enjoy unique experiences without paying the premium prices.
Authentic Experiences: Almost everything in touristic destinations are more often alter for tourists. You think that’s the restaurant the locals go for dinner, surrounded by 50 tourists? Think again. By choosing a less touristic destination, you will have a higher chance of immersing yourself in the local cultures, traditions, and lifestyles, creating more meaningful memories.
What’s in it for Planet, People & Economy?
🌏 Reduction of over-tourism: This reduces pressure on local infrastructures such as water and waste problems, protects fragile ecosystems, and maintains the quality of the destination for future generations.
👥 Socio-Cultural Preservation: Visiting alternative destinations help in preserving indigenous cultures, traditions, and languages that might be overshadowed in heavily touristed areas.
💼 Economic Empowerment: Choosing alternative destinations creates new job opportunities, stimulates the local businesses, and helps diversify income sources in less-visited regions.
Image Source: Sarinbuana Eco Lodge
👉🏼 Why is it sustainable conscious?
Sarinbuana Eco Lodge has taken it one step further by shifting their operational focus from sustainability to regeneration practices.
Regeneration takes it a step further by actively restoring and replenishing natural resources, ecosystems, and communities, not just sustaining them but making them better than they were found. It helps to create a more resilient and thriving future for all of us.
From mulching the garden to protect the soil from erosion, to planting over 150 edible and medicinal plants in the garden to serve their restaurant and attract birds and butterflies, to using locally made Terracotta natural floor tiles, to employing a local teacher to inspire the young local girls to learn and keep traditional Balinese dance alive, the list goes on and on.
The entire eco-lodge has truly put the local community and the ecosystem at the heart of their operation.
They have made the entire area better than they found it, deserving a big round of applause. 👏🏼
👉🏼 What’s in it for travellers?
→ The lodge's commitment to regeneration practices ensures a unique and enriching experience. This guarantees to be one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
→ A hands-on regeneration learning experience. That’s not something you get to learn in your daily life or from textbooks.
→ Be completely immersed in nature, bringing about a sense of calm and tranquility.
→ Supporting a business that actively contributes to the well-being of the local community.
👉🏼 What can your travel business learn?
→ Adopt a holistic approach to sustainable operations. Consider various aspects, including energy conservation, waste reduction, and integration with the local community, to create a comprehensive and well-rounded sustainable operation.
→ Engage with and support the local community. Employ local staff, support cultural initiatives, and foster education to contribute to a more inclusive and mutually beneficial relationship.
→ Implement educational initiatives for guests and use it as your unique selling point. Provide information on regeneration practices, environmental issues, and cultural aspects to raise awareness of the local community you operate in. Don’t just provide a room; offer knowledge and experiences.
→ Communicate transparently with guests about sustainability and regenerative efforts. Highlight achievements, ongoing projects, and the positive impact of their stay to foster a sense of participation and shared responsibility.
Image Source: Warung Goûthé Instagram
👉🏼 Why is it sustainable conscious?
When the French are involved, there is always a romantic story behind it all. Warung Goûthé, run by a French-Indonesian couple dedicated to ecology, rejects the notion of waste and strives to eliminate the very word from their kitchen.
Warung Goûthé adheres to a philosophy of 'less is more,' aiming to be a 'Zero foodprint restaurant.' The menu features only a single item for lunch, depending on what produces are fresh. When you don’t get to choose, only one mise en place is needed, significantly reducing their food waste.
If the meal of the day is not enough (though we reckon it will be), they also serve freshly-made paninis and, of course, French desserts. When the food taste as good as it looks, food waste shouldn’t be much of a problem 😉
👉🏼 What’s in it for travellers?
→ When a restaurants serves a single-item, they often specialise in perfecting that dish. You can expect exceptional quality and attention to detail.
→ An adventurous and novel experience. You have the opportunity to explore a dish that you might not find elsewhere, adding a unique culinary dimension to your holiday.
→ With a limited menu, you can enjoy quicker service and reduced wait times.
→ Knowing you are eating the freshest produces of the day.
→ Oh wait, yes, 100% Insta & TikTok worthy ;)
👉🏼 What can your travel business learn?
→ Having a single food item becomes a unique selling point for your restaurant. You know what they say, do one thing and do it well. And if you do it well, the chances are customers will come back again for more.
→ Simplifying the menu and focusing on a single item reduces the variety of ingredients needed, minimising the risk of overstocking and waste.
→ With less items on your menu, you can prioritise sourcing fresh, seasonal ingredients. This not only enhances the quality of each dish but also reduces the likelihood of food spoilage and saves cost.
→ By reducing the number of ingredients and streamlining operations, you can save a significant amount of cost. This not only benefits the bottom line but also aligns with sustainable practices by avoiding unnecessary resource consumption.
Image Source: Five Pillars Experiences’ Facebook
👉🏼 Why is it sustainable conscious?
Five Pillar Experiences is on a mission to uplift rural Balinese communities, aiming to empower them economically, socially, and culturally. By steering clear of the typical tourist hotspots, Five Pillar ensures your adventure leaves a lasting, positive imprint on local culture and communities.
By embarking on sustainable and community-driven travel experiences, you will discover the unspoiled natural wonders of Bali, untouched by mass tourism. You'll also get to dive into the heart of the action, engaging with the local community and immersing yourself in the richness of Balinese cultures and values.
Five Pillar Experiences hasn’t just been a bridge for local entrepreneurs to reach international markets. Since their inception, they've been an inspiration, sparking new business opportunities and championing entrepreneurship among the locals.
Your journey with Five Pillar also means contributing to the Five Pillar Foundation, where they run youth skills development programs in rural areas, opening doors for young minds with opportunities beyond hospitality and tourism.
And to top it all off, for every guest embarking on one of their unique experiences, Five Pillar plants a mangrove tree, ensuring you leave Bali knowing you've made a positive mark on this beautiful island.
👉🏼 What’s in it for travellers?
→ Explore unspoiled natural wonders of Bali that are away from the usual tourist hotspots.
→ You will be able to customise your tours and experiences tailored to your preferences and interests.
→ Directly contributing to the economic empowerment of local businesses, supporting entrepreneurship initiatives among the locals.
👉🏼 What can your travel business learn?
→ Embrace a community-centric approach to empower local residents economically, socially, and culturally. This not only allows you to forge closer relationships with communities which could further benefit your business in the long run but also serves as a distinctive selling point for your tours or experiences.
→ Inspire and support local businesses and nurture entrepreneurship in the local communities. The greater the diversity in business offerings within these communities, the more potential for you to develop an even more exceptional product or service for travellers.
→ Implement social impact initiatives that contribute positively to the communities. This not only enhances the satisfaction of your clients but also allows you to give back to the communities you engage with.
→ Offer personalised tours and activities with flexibility in your product and offerings. Allow room for adjustments based on the travellers' desired outcomes. This approach not only provides a tailored experience that meets their needs but also enables you to charge more for specially curated itineraries.