Tri Hita Karana as Environmental Ethics: Balancing Anthropocentrism and Ecocentrism Approaches in Sustainable Tourism Governance in Bali

Abstract

The study aims at finding the role of Tri Hita Karana (THK) an indigenous environmental ethics as a balancing power on the human dominance approach (anthropocentrism) over nature (ecocentrism) in Bali.  Adopting qualitative research, the primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with Tetra Helix components: business, government, experts, informal leader, and media person. Secondary data is taken from on line journals, books, reports, social media, etc. to complete the research. The Tri Hita Karana (THK) an indigenous Balinese principle of harmony: human with human, human with nature, and human with the divinity acts as balancing power to navigate the two approaches on which ecocentrism has been incorporated for a fair and balance practice of tourism not only for economic benefit but also sustainable nature, culture, and well-beings of the local community. The principles can be utilized in formulating rules, regulation, business plan, operations along with the law enforcement for long lasting sustainable tourism of Bali. The novelty of this study that balancing of the triple P: planet, people and profit can contribute to policy maker, stake holder, and business person to implement the principles of THK in forming any rules or regulation as well as on the law enforcement.