Commemorating the 60th Anniversary, Udayana University Holds a National Seminar

Udayana University (Unud) held a National Seminar on “Tourism Policy and Food Security”, Wednesday (21/9) at Nusantara Room, Agrokomplek Building, Unud Sudirman Campus, Denpasar. This seminar is one of a series of commemorations of the 60th Anniversary of Unud which will culminate in celebration on September 29, 2022. The seminar was opened by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Unud, Prof. I Gede Rai Maya Temaja, M.P. by presenting the Governor of Bali, Dr. Ir. I Wayan Koster, M.M. as the main speaker/keynote speaker. In addition, three other speakers, namely Dr. I Wayan Suardana, S.ST, M.Par. (Lecturer of the Faculty of Tourism Unud); Prof. Dr. dr. I Wayan Teguh Wibawan, M.S. (Lecturer of FKH Bogor Agricultural University); and Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Wyasa Putra, S.H, M.Hum. (Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Unud).

The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, said that the Province of Bali under his leadership made amends, one of which was improvements in the tourism sector. Bali does not have adequate readiness to become a major world-class and competitive tourism destination. "Bali does not have a product by design that is a world-class tourism attraction, and the most inadequate infrastructure," he said.

Therefore, the Governor is aggressively building infrastructure. The developments include the arrangement of the Besakih area, the construction of the Singaraja-Mengwi Shortcut, and the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road. Construction of three ports, namely Sampalan Port in Nusa Penida, Bias Munjul Port in Nusa Ceningan, and Sanur Port. Next is the construction of the Marina Tourism Hub in Benoa Harbor, with the design of the construction of Benoa Harbor using lecturers from the Udayana University Architecture Study Program.

In addition, the Bali Cultural Center Area (PKB) development project is currently underway in Gunaksa, Klungkung. PKB is predicted to be a new tourism attraction. The governor also built the Turyapada Tower in Pegayaman, Buleleng. Aside from being a solution for Buleleng's blank spot, the multifunctional integrated tower is also projected as a new tourist attraction in Bali. The construction of the Turyapada Tower also involves lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering, Unud.

Food security or food sovereignty is also a concern. At least to meet the needs of daily staples must be met from the natural products of Bali which are of course produced by farmers, fishermen, Balinese craftsmen and traded and bought by the Balinese people themselves. To support this, a number of regulations have been issued to improve Bali tourism. Among other things, the issuance of the Governor's Regulation on Bali Tourism Governance and the Bali Provincial Regulation on Standards for the Implementation of Balinese Cultural Tourism.

Chairman of the Committee for the 60th Anniversary of Unud, Dr. Ir. I Gede Suarta M.Si, said that this seminar took place in a hybrid manner, and was attended by around 500 participants online and offline. I Gede Suarta reported that a series of Dies Natalis activities had been carried out since last August, starting with the Trace of Prabu Udayana's journey. Then the blood donation activity as a form of concern for others who managed to collect about 300 bags of blood. In a series of celebrations for the 60th Unud Anniversary, the committee also carried out community service in Nusa Penida in collaboration with LPPM. “Furthermore, on September 24, a family event will be held by inviting the entire academic community. The 29th is the culmination of the anniversary,” he said.

The Rector of Unud who on this occasion was represented by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Ir. I Gede Rai Maya Temaja, M.P. said that he was very proud and happy for the presence of the Governor of Bali in the National Seminar on "Tourism Policy and Food Security". This theme is very important because the island of Bali as a tourism destination and this sector has a very large contribution to the economy of Bali. "It's a shame that with the pandemic, Bali has returned to zero. The pandemic has had a huge impact," he said.

Prof Rai appreciates the fast movement of the Governor of Bali's policy with various solution programs to restore Bali's tourism and economy. He continued, during the pandemic, food security is also a central issue of national development. Food security is one of the sectors that determine national stability. This is a shared responsibility between the government and the community. "Hopefully this seminar will be able to contribute to the government and society," he added.