Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bali's Usadha practice, or traditional Balinese treatment, needs to be rebranded by highlighting its uniqueness and benefits and promoted by including it in tourism packages, the Health Ministry has said.

"What Usadha Bali practitioners need to do is a more attractive rebranding," acting director of public health management at the ministry, Iwan Halwani, said as noted in a written statement received here on Tuesday.

He explained that by "more attractive rebranding," he was referring to highlighting the uniqueness and benefits of the Balinese traditional healing experience and taking the initiative to make it a part of the tourism package.

"(What if), the Balinese welcome drink is jamu? The economic potential is great. Make it unique to Bali, made in Bali. Means that if the material is turmeric, it is one truly planted in Bali," he said.

Meanwhile, head of the Bali Health Office, I Nyoman Gede Anom, said he is confident that the traditional treatment scene in Bali will grow positively.

Moreover, wellness tourism will be hosted soon, he added.

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This means that tourists who visit Bali will be able to enjoy Bali's scenic beauty and its local wisdom in the form of traditional treatment methods, he said.

He informed that he had urged Gotra Pangusada Bali, the official collective of Usadha practitioners, to prepare for such an initiative.

"Make a place, like a house. Who knows any of the fellows in Gotra has coffee farm, they may offer (the product). We will direct the patients to that place. We offer the wellness tourism package," he added.

He said he is optimistic about launching the wellness tourism package in August 2023.

He also informed that his administration has established collaboration with Bali's Indonesia Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI) to promote Balinese herbal products in tourism packages.

"There are two Balinese local jamu products, which we inform to PHRI. Those to be served as welcome drink, there are 22 flavors. At least, it can be (implemented) in hotels in Badung first. Now it's only matter of MoU (memorandum of understanding)," he said.

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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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