Indonesia Looks To Tackle Soaring Tourism and Development in Bali

TaiwanPlus News

The Indonesian government is planning to impose a construction moratorium on Bali to combat overdevelopment and other problems from soaring tourism. Increased construction and foreign visitors on the island have caused heavy traffic and pollution, threatening Bali's natural environment and culture.

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00:00Heavy traffic on the streets of Bali, one of the side effects of a surge in tourism

00:06to the Indonesian island.

00:09Known for its natural beauty and its deeply spiritual culture, Bali's visit account

00:13has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the transformation of open green spaces

00:19into villas, restaurants and clubs.

00:22Okay, they're building villas, they're building hotels, they're building shops.

00:27So they're looking at, okay, it's a destination where I can make money, which is not supposed

00:34to be.

00:35Bali is not that.

00:36That's not how it used to be.

00:37Bali is supposed to be, people come here for nature, people come here for people, people

00:41come here for culture, which is we're losing right now, which is becoming a different kind

00:47of tourist coming into Bali right now.

00:49In the first half of 2024, 2.9 million foreign visitors landed in Bali Airport, marking a

00:55more than 23% increase from the same period the year before.

01:00Now, many of those visitors are here for the growing party culture, leading to bad behaviour

01:05from some travellers.

01:07Viral videos of unruly visitors disrespecting sacred sites and culture or committing illegal

01:13offences including driving under the influence have sparked outrage among local communities.

01:19For example, there are a lot of troublemakers who come here, who cause problems in the hills

01:26here.

01:27And that is something that happens in the end.

01:34We have to expect it to happen when the development happens, yes, there is a problem, for sure.

01:42The influx of travellers and overdevelopment has also increased pollution, threatening

01:47the island's natural environment.

01:50In a bid to protect Bali's agricultural heritage, ecosystems and culture, the Indonesian

01:55government is planning to impose a moratorium on the construction of villas, nightclubs

01:59and hotels.

02:01The period for the construction suspension is unclear, but it could remain in place for

02:05up to a decade depending on government evaluations.

02:09Bali has a unique culture that needs to be preserved, and the beautiful and original

02:16nature needs to be preserved, because that is what we have the capital for, so we need

02:21more in-depth research, which means that any accommodation will become a moratorium, a

02:29temporary suspension, and in any area.

02:34Is Bali a complete one?

02:36The government has also introduced a tourism tax of 150,000 rupiahs, or around nine US

02:42dollars, to help protect its culture.

02:45But for many on the island, a rise in tourism means more income.

02:49But for me, as a smooth operator, I am happy with this.

02:58Leaving the Indonesian government looking to strike a balance between the economy, local

03:02culture and environment to transform Bali into a quality and sustainable holiday destination

03:08for generations to come.

03:11James Lin and Rosie Grenninger for Taiwan Plus.

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