DENPASAR — The threat of overtourism looms over Penglipuran Tourism Village in Bangli Regency. Beneath its international acclaim and the commercial gains of booming footfall, the traditional custom village ( desa adat ) is grappling with capacity limits, surging waste volumes, environmental pollution, and an urgent need to re-manage its iconic bamboo forest ecosystem.
This growing strain formed the core of doctoral research presented by Trisno Nugroho during his doctoral defense examination at Udayana University, Bali, on Tuesday, 11th August 2026. Becoming the 157th Tourism Doctorate graduate from the university, Nugroho proposed a groundbreaking strategic framework termed the REGENESIS Model —a regenerative tourism approach rooted in socio-ecological restoration designed to safeguard Penglipuran from irreversible destination decline.
“Our findings indicate that environmental recovery requires structured governance, measurable key performance indicators, and systematic restoration programmes. Community involvement, whilst vital, cannot achieve lasting ecological recovery without a clear, systemic roadmap.”
Unpacking the Paradox of a Premier Destination
In his defense, Nugroho highlighted the paradox of evaluating Penglipuran's success solely through visitor numbers and global accolades. Behind the rapid growth lies escalating social, cultural, and environmental pressure.
The study indicates that several key sustainable tourism benchmarks in Penglipuran remain unmet, including:
While local participation has successfully driven economic resilience and community empowerment, the research exposes a critical gap: community engagement alone is insufficient to guarantee proactive ecological restoration.
The Six Pillars of the REGENESIS Model
Designed to steer Penglipuran away from destination stagnation towards a phase of structured rejuvenation, the REGENESIS Model integrates six core pillars:
Warm Congratulations from BaliCEB Chairman
The doctoral defense was attended in person by Dr Ketut Jaman, Chairman of the Bali Convention and Exhibition Bureau (BaliCEB), who extended his warmest congratulations to Dr Trisno Nugroho on his academic achievement and vital contribution to Bali’s sustainable tourism landscape.
Through this regenerative paradigm, Penglipuran shifts its focus from merely maintaining current conditions to actively restoring and enhancing the destination's ecosystem—setting a progressive standard for international business events, corporate retreats, and incentive travel in Bali.