Denpasar (Tim Redaksi) – A new Indonesia–Australia research collaboration is putting practical, locally grounded sustainability strategies into the global tourism spotlight, offering timely lessons for museums, cultural attractions, and destination leaders.
Universitas Ngurah Rai, Bali and Torrens University Australia continue to advance their international research collaboration through the publication of a scholarly article in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, a leading Q1-ranked journal indexed by Scopus.
The publication forms part of both institutions’ broader efforts to contribute to global scholarly discussions on sustainability, cultural heritage, and tourism.
It reflects a shared commitment to research that bridges locally grounded knowledge with internationally recognised theoretical and methodological frameworks.
The study, led by Tjokorda Gde Agung Wijaya Kesuma Suryawan, BComm., MIntBus., CMA, demonstrates the growing role of Indonesian academics in leading internationally engaged research.
The article, entitled “Accidental ethnography through critical realism: A pragmatic approach to understanding sustainability strategies of small, private museums,” was co-authored with Professor Catheryn Khoo of Torrens University Australia.
The research examines how the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Ubud, Bali, has developed adaptive sustainability strategies amid challenges faced by museums and cultural institutions worldwide, including declining visitor engagement and financial pressures.
Reflecting on the substance of the study, Tjokorda emphasised the value of positioning culturally grounded practices within global academic discourse.
“This research shows that cultural institutions in Bali offer conceptually rich and practical insights into sustainability when heritage, community engagement, and economic viability are understood as interconnected,” he said in Denpasar on Monday.
The collaboration was initiated in early 2024 through a joint academic workshop followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.
Subsequent academic exchanges on heritage and museum studies led the research team to ARMA, where close engagement with museum leadership informed the study’s empirical foundation.
The findings position ARMA as a “Living Museum” that integrates cultural practices, including dance, painting, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), into its sustainability model.
This locally embedded approach illustrates how small, private museums can remain resilient while maintaining cultural authenticity in diverse international contexts.
Professor Catheryn Khoo highlighted the significance of equitable international collaboration in shaping globally relevant research.
“Working collaboratively with international partners allows Indonesian scholars to contribute on equal footing, ensuring that research about Bali is shaped by those who understand its cultural and social context,” she said.
The publication was supported by institutional research frameworks from both Universitas Ngurah Rai and Torrens University Australia, including ethical approval processes and academic mobility facilitation.
Through sustained collaboration, Universitas Ngurah Rai, Bali and Torrens University Australia aim to position locally grounded knowledge as a meaningful contributor to global scholarship on sustainable tourism and cultural heritage.
