JAKARTA - In the midst of shifting the focus of tourists from Kuta to Seminyak, Canggu, to Pererenan, an area that has been the face of tourism in Bali for decades does not seem ready to just give up the stage.
Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel, one of the tourism icons of Kuta which this year entered its 36th birthday, chose the momentum of its birthday to send a clear message: Kuta is still relevant and still has an important role in the future of Bali tourism.
Together with the 22-year-old Discovery Mall Bali, the hotel located right on the edge of Kuta Beach has prepared a series of programs for almost six months, from August 2026 to January 2027.
The program includes cultural activities, entertainment, wellness, empowerment of MSMEs, to environmental actions involving the surrounding community.
Director of Marketing & Communications Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Riska Wandira said, his party wants to build an area that not only serves as a place to stay, but also becomes an integrated destination that is able to present various experiences in one location.
"We want to present a destination that combines accommodation, recreation, culinary, and community activities in one area that is directly connected to Kuta Beach," said Riska.
According to him, the concept was born from a change in the behavior of tourists who are no longer just looking for hotel rooms, but also a more complete experience while in Bali.
The series of celebrations will feature various music concerts, cultural performances, wellness programs, and community activities aimed at drawing tourists' attention back to Kuta.
The peak of the event is scheduled to take place in October, coinciding with the 36th anniversary of the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel.
Apart from entertainment, environmental issues are one of the main focuses this year.
Discovery is preparing a regular beach cleaning program, environmental cleaning activities with residents, to a coral reef adoption program in Nusa Lembongan.
On the other hand, the company also strengthens the involvement of local business actors in tourism activities.
Discovery provides space for MSMEs to sell in hotel and shopping center areas without profit orientation only.
"We want to give local MSMEs the opportunity to grow and become part of the tourist experience enjoyed by visitors," said Riska.
This step is considered in line with the challenges currently faced by the Bali tourism industry, namely how to maintain that the economic benefits of tourism are not only enjoyed by large investors, but also by local communities.
Even though the face of Bali tourism continues to change, Discovery Kartika Plaza has one advantage that new destinations cannot easily imitate: the loyalty of visitors that has been built for decades.
Riska revealed that not a few guests who first stayed at the hotel were still young couples, and now they are back with their children and even their grandchildren.
The phenomenon shows that Kuta may no longer be the newest destination in Bali, but still has a strong emotional bond for many foreign tourists.
In the midst of increasingly tight competition for destinations, Discovery Kartika Plaza seems to want to prove that the future of Kuta does not lie in trying to be the trendiest, but rather to become the most complete, mature tourist area, and remain close to the community that has raised it for decades.
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