Bali traditional music

Finally, a phenomenon we cannot ignore is the economic advantages resulting from the harmonic integration of the arts and tourism. Cultural conservation is often seen as burden for many people sof the world these days, but in Bali, with the presence of tourism and its sponsorship of the culture is general and the arts in particular, both the arts and their preservation are thus guaranteed. As a commodity of tourism, the arts play a large part in economy of the island, and of the nation as a whole, enabling artists to improve their standards of living above the ranks of the lower classes, farmers etc. This means that people are unlikely to think twice before choosing the arts as profession, rather than simply as a hobby, and therefore the skills and talent necessary for artistic endeavor are maintained from generation to generation . The skills of the carver or dancer are reared carefully throughout the society because these abilities serve as a source of prosperity for those ready to master them.

These realities show that between tourism and the art in Bali there is a dynamic interaction which so mutually beneficial. This tends to support the discovery made by American Anthropologist McKean more than two decade ago, that although great social and economic changes were taking place in Bali, this was all taking place in Bali, this was all taking place - hand in hand - with the conservation of traditional culture.

Tourism it seems, has actually strengthened the process of conservation, reformation and revitalization of various tradition including art.

Tourism has selectively reinforced traditional culture in Bali through a process which has been termed "culture involution '. Cultural influence from abroad is a given and no culture can isolate itself from foreign influence. Interestingly in Bali as anthropologist Stephen Langsing has noted, this influence has an additive rather than a subtractive effect. The influence enriches and develops rather than changes and destroys. This kind of influence is swallowed whole (rather than in spoonfuls through a process of Balinisation) and regurgitated as a purely Balinese product. This agrees with the many theories which posit Balinese culture as having an intense vitality and adaptability when faced with startlingly new conditions. History has already shown that Balinese culture can ride many a storm without losing its balance and at the same time give birth to new and exciting cultural creation. The history of the Balinese arts is a syncretistic one

showing a staying power and adaptability in the face of many changes. Several factors tend it support these positive influences of tourism. These have their roots in traditional Balinese culture which is based on its Hindu faith, whose concept of Rwa-Bhineda (mentioned later) underlines so many aspects of life. There is also the doctrine desa, kala, patra ( time, place, situation), which praises variety in accordance with the place, time and objective situation of different environments