In an effort to curb overtourism and its impacts, Bali has placed a ban on the development of new hotels.
OVERTOURISM
Overtourism is not good for a destination.
While high tourist flows are great for business, they have various other detrimental effects.
Burdening the infrastructure and impacting the environment are significant effects of having too many visitors.
BALI OVERTOURISM PROBLEM
High tourism flows to Bali adds pressure on local infrastructure and endangers the environment.
Since the removal of Covid-19 restrictions, tourism has made a swift recovery in Bali.
According to Indonesia’s statistics bureau, in the first half of this year, 2.9 million foreign visitors entered Bali, through Denpasar airport.
Furthermore, the number of hotels in Bali has risen from 507 in 2019, to 541 in 2023.
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DECADE-LONG BAN
To address concerns over overtourism, Indonesian authorities have implemented a temporary suspension on new hotel builds in some areas of the island.
The move is intended to control overdevelopment and reduce demands on local infrastructure and services.
Authorities have not confirmed how long the ban will be enforced. However, senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan says the ban may be in place for up to a decade.
THREAT OF OVERTOURISM IN BALI
Local residents are becoming frustrated by increased traffic and tourists’ behaviour while visiting the island.
Last month, tourism minister Sandiaga Uno warned that the situation in south Bali was verging on overtourism.
“A 10 per cent increase could push us into [overtourism] territory,” Uno said, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
NEW BALI OVERTOURISM HOTEL BAN
Euronews reports that the ban will apply to the construction of new hotels, villas and nightclubs in some areas of Bali.
“We must avoid a situation like Barcelona, where tourists become public enemies.” Uno said.
STRIKING BACK
While tourism is an important sector in many economies, it can also negatively impact the lives of those people that live in places.
Hence the backlash from local communities in places like Barcelona, where locals are beginning to show disregard for tourists.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Though many locals may be employed in the tourism sector or in jobs dependent on the tourism sector, overtourism certainly can impact quality of life for local inhabitants.
That said, having large numbers of visitors teeming through the streets or crowing small areas makes places such as Amsterdam and Venice more like a theme park for local populations, who struggle to go about their daily lives.
