THE ROLE OF TRI HITA KARANA IN SUSTAINABLE AGRITOURISM GOVERNANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS IN WEST BALI SUBAK SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24843/JSFD.2026.v01.i01.p01Keywords:
ecological resilience, environmental ethics, subak system, sustainable agritourism, THKAbstract
This study explores how the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (THK) —the harmony among the divine, humans, and nature—functions as an ethical foundation for sustainable agritourism governance in West Bali’s Subak system. Using an interpretive-ethnographic approach, data were collected through non-participatory observation, semi-structured interviews with 11 key informants, and document analysis in Subak Munduk Nangka, Jembrana Regency. Findings reveal that THK operates as a living ethical paradigm shaping ritual practices, decision-making, and ecological management. Parahyangan (divine harmony) regulates the temporal and ritual organization of tourism; Pawongan (social harmony) fosters participatory governance grounded in reciprocity and moral responsibility; and Palemahan (ecological harmony) guides environmentally respectful practices such as organic farming, waste reduction, and water conservation. Together, these dimensions transform agritourism governance from a technocratic system into a moral ecology where sustainability is enacted through spiritual and ethical commitments rather than external regulation. Theoretically, the study positions THK as a functional ethical paradigm and a decolonial framework that integrates local cosmology into sustainable tourism governance. It challenges neoliberal and instrumental sustainability models by redefining environmental stewardship as a sacred and communal duty. The study concludes that integrating indigenous ethical systems like THK can enhance epistemic justice, cultural integrity, and ecological resilience within tourism development.
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