Bali tourism surge prompts calls for construction freeze amid environmental concerns

Published on November 12, 2024

By: Paramita Sarkar

As Bali experiences a surge in tourism, the island’s residents and environmental advocates are pushing for a two-year halt on new hotel and nightlife construction, aiming to mitigate the impact of mass tourism on Bali’s natural landscape and resources.

Indonesian authorities recently announced a proposal—pending confirmation by President Prabowo Subianto’s administration—to implement a moratorium on building hotels, villas, and nightclubs, intending to balance tourism with environmental preservation.

For decades, Bali has drawn millions with its lush rainforests, expansive rice paddies, and famed surf beaches.

However, areas like Canggu, once a quiet village, are now bustling with traffic and development, leading locals to express concerns about losing Bali’s green spaces and cultural essence.

Kadek Candrawati, a local motorcycle rental owner, shared that Canggu’s “tranquillity and greenery are gradually disappearing,” urging collaboration between the government and community to preserve Bali’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Bali’s tourism industry bounced back swiftly after the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing nearly three million foreign visitors in the first half of this year alone, largely from Australia, China, and India.

Despite the moratorium proposal, it remains uncertain whether President Subianto, who recently met with island officials, will endorse the freeze.

His commitment to developing a second international airport hints at ambitions to position Bali as a leading economic hub akin to Singapore and Hong Kong.

Environmental advocacy group Walhi argues that Bali is already overbuilt, with green areas increasingly replaced by infrastructure.

Made Krisna Dinata, Walhi’s executive director, insists the proposed moratorium should serve as a protective measure, not just a temporary pause, to shield Bali’s land from excessive development.

Over-tourism has visibly strained Bali’s resources: plastic pollution has inundated beaches, groundwater extraction has dried up rivers, and UNESCO-listed irrigation systems are under threat as green spaces give way to new structures.

Viral videos have highlighted the environmental degradation, with footage of limestone cliff excavations sending land masses into the ocean.

Local surfers like Piter Panjaitan report that polluted seawater is deterring surf tourism, a crucial livelihood for many.

The Bali tourism agency’s head, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, noted that the moratorium would aim to shift development away from the southern regions, easing the pressure on Bali’s most heavily touristed areas.

However, Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association vice-chairman, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, calls for a detailed impact study, cautioning that a moratorium could hurt the island’s economy, especially as tourism demand remains high with occupancy rates at 80-90%.

While locals and environmental groups rally for change, the debate continues as Bali balances the economic gains from tourism with the need to protect its famed natural and cultural heritage.