"Today, scholars, policymakers and international organizations are increasingly embracing regenerative tourism, which seeks not only to sustain destinations but also to restore, enrich and regenerate them," she said.

She said Bali is among the few destinations that clearly illustrate this transition while also facing mounting pressures from rapid tourism growth.

"Congested tourist areas, mounting waste, pressure on water resources, land conversion and the commercialization of cultural practices have intensified debates over the long-term resilience of Bali's tourism industry," she said.

These challenges, she added, raise a fundamental question: should tourism success continue to be measured by visitor numbers and revenue, or by the positive legacy it leaves for local communities, ecosystems and future generations?

"Regenerative tourism encourages destinations to become healthier, ecosystems stronger, communities more prosperous and cultural traditions more resilient because of tourism—not despite it. Tourists are no longer merely consumers of experiences but active contributors to destination regeneration," she said.

Putu Ayu said this approach also aligns with Indonesia's ambition to develop quality tourism.

"Quality tourism is not simply about attracting high-spending visitors or luxury markets. It should emphasize meaningful interactions between visitors and local communities, equitable economic benefits, environmental responsibility and long-term cultural preservation," she said.

"The value of tourism should ultimately be assessed by the positive contribution it generates rather than by the number of arrivals it records."

According to Putu Ayu, although regenerative tourism has only recently gained global attention, Bali has long embraced many of its principles through Tri Hita Karana, which promotes harmony between humanity and God (parhyangan), among people (pawongan), and between humans and nature (palemahan).

While the philosophy has often been used as a cultural value or tourism branding element, she said its broader significance as a comprehensive tourism management framework has yet to receive sufficient international recognition.

"Rather than viewing Tri Hita Karana solely as a local philosophy, it should be recognized as an indigenous model of regenerative tourism," she said.

Its emphasis on reciprocal relationships, collective responsibility, environmental stewardship and social harmony closely reflects the principles now promoted by regenerative tourism scholars worldwide.

"In many respects, Bali has been practicing regenerative principles long before the concept itself became internationally recognized," she said.

She added that regenerative tourism places greater importance on quality than quantity, measuring success by environmental restoration, community well-being and cultural resilience rather than visitor arrivals or spending alone.

Putu Ayu also stressed that governments, tourism businesses, educational institutions, local communities and visitors all share responsibility for building a regenerative tourism ecosystem.

"By integrating Tri Hita Karana into tourism policies, business practices and academic research, Bali has the opportunity to contribute a new tourism paradigm to the world."

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