Universities deploy augmented reality for Penglipuran cultural tourism

Bangli — A community-service programme at Penglipuran Tourism Village is rolling out augmented-reality tools to support cultural tourism branding and visitor interpretation, according to UPN “Veteran” East Java’s Faculty of Computer Science and state broadcaster RRI. The project is scheduled for 16–17 September 2026 in Bangli, and it is described as an international collaboration involving four universities.

The faculty said the programme, titled “Implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) for Strengthening Cultural Tourism Branding in Penglipuran Village, Bali,” brings together UPN “Veteran” East Java, INSTIKI, INTI International University in Malaysia and Filamer Christian University in the Philippines. RRI reported a separate but related AR effort in Penglipuran led by researchers from Ganesha University of Education, underscoring growing academic interest in using digital tools for the village’s tourism sector.

How the AR system is designed to work

According to the UPN faculty description, visitors will be able to scan QR-style markers placed at selected cultural attractions using mobile devices. The scans are intended to open cultural information in several formats, including text, images, audio, video and three-dimensional animation.

The programme’s stated goal is to make information about Penglipuran’s heritage more interactive and easier to access while also strengthening the village’s image as a cultural tourism destination. The faculty said the concept is meant to support self-guided visits, allowing tourists to explore at their own pace.

The faculty also said the project is framed as international community service rather than a commercial product launch. It lists the programme’s coordinators as Dr. I Gede Susrama Mas Diyasa of UPN “Veteran” East Java, Putu Wirayudi Aditama of INSTIKI, Garganza Mary Crystal Aila Panigua of INTI International University and Besana Mardy Pestaño of Filamer Christian University.

What the sources say about Penglipuran

RRI described Penglipuran as one of Bali’s most celebrated cultural destinations, and said the newer AR project at the village aims to combine immersive digital layers with heritage preservation. In its report, RRI said researchers are working on features such as 3D models, digital narratives, audio guides and video documentation to enrich the visitor experience.

The UPN faculty’s programme page says Penglipuran was chosen because of its traditional architecture, cultural heritage, environmental preservation efforts and emphasis on local wisdom. The article frames the digital project as a way to communicate those qualities to Indonesian and international visitors using technology.

Penglipuran has also been the subject of broader academic attention. A Frontiers article published in 2026 discussed the village in the context of cultural preservation and overtourism, indicating continued research interest in how the destination manages growth while maintaining its heritage identity.

Both reports point to the same broader trend: local universities are using augmented reality and other digital tools to support interpretation, education and destination branding in Penglipuran without changing the village’s cultural core.

RRI’s report on the Undiksha project said the system is being prepared for field implementation and user testing, while the UPN faculty page presents the Bangli programme as a two-day activity on 16–17 September 2026. Together, the reports show that Penglipuran is becoming a test case for how cultural tourism can be enhanced through digital layers while still relying on the village’s living traditions and architectural identity.

Sources

• Faculty of Computer Science, UPN “Veteran” East Java
• RRI
• Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism