Bali’s Tourism Boom : Addressing Overcrowding and Environmental Impact

Published on November 24, 2025

Bali, Indonesia, is a prime example of a tropical paradise with its lavish scenery, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture. Over the years, the island has continued to attract tourists from all over the world, and recently in 2025, Bali hit an all-time high with over six point three million international visitors. Seemingly a great milestone, it objectively raises concerns surrounding the sustainability of Bali tourism and the consequences of its own popularity. These concerns stem from the underlying negative implications on the island’s communities and environments.

One of the most noticeable impacts of Bali’s tourism explosion is the traffic, especially on the routes to desirable vacation destinations like Ubud and Kuta. Highway delays and crowding on roadways is a daily struggle. The island is growing in popularity and the road networks to these highways are getting full. Long periods of driving with no movement lead to anger and greater environmental damage. Bali’s beaches and parks are continuing to get trash, especially plastic, and the areas with less tourism are now full to the brim with people.

The Extent of Overtourism on the Environment

Bali is world famous for its beautiful beaches, mesmerising rice terraces, beaches and folkloric temples. However, the current influx of tourists is pushing the island past its carrying capacity and is threatening its natural and cultural heritage. Pristine beaches like Seminyak and Kuta, once offering beach goers solitude and relaxation, are now lined with sun loungers and have little to no space for enjoyment. Plastic pollution, both due to poor waste management and to the tourists themselves, is now a common sight on Bali’s beaches and coast, including debris that washes ashore and litter that is casually left behind. Bali’s natural beauty, the main reason for its tourism, is being suffocated by the increasing degradation of the environment.

The Ubud Rice Terrace is one of the cultural landscapes in Bali inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Ubud is also one of the most photographed and Insta famous places in Bali. The Rice Terrace and its amazing views have also attracted mass tourism, and, unfortunately, there are now severe consequences to its fragile ecosystem. The area used to be a tranquil/restorative sanctuary for both travelers and locals but is now suffering from the negative impacts of mass tourism. The locals have begun to worry about the sustainable future of their lifestyle.

Effects of Increased Traffic on Cultural and Sacred Sites

On top of the impacts on the environment, the island’s sacred and cultural sites are also feeling the pressure. Sites such as Besakih Temple and Tegallalang Rice Terrace are heavily overrun by tourists, many of whom are more interested in the space for instagram selfies rather than the respectful offerings and prayer rituals intended for the sacred sites. With the large influx of tourists, Bali’s temples that are already some of the island’s most sacred have become overcrowded, and there are concerns that the authenticity of cultural experiences in Bali are being lost to mass tourism.

Although these concerns are growing, the island’s tourism authorities are working on measures to strike a balance between the number of visitors and the integrity of the island’s culture. Some measures such as the promotion of responsible travel and limiting daily visitors to certain sites have been suggested, but the island’s rapid growth in popularity as a global tourism destination creates difficulties to these efforts.

Overcrowding in Bali

Some travelers changed their plans due to the overpopulation in Bali and therefore decided to visit islands around Bali that are less populated For travelers looking for more affordable and less populated trips, the islands of Lombok, Sumba, and other Indonesian islands have become more popular destinations for travellers seeking a quiet holiday to a Bali-like island experience. Balinese overcrowded islands have become less desirable for travellers and made the Indonesian islands more in demand.  

Tourists from Australia, Europe and other countries are seeking other less- populated Beach destinations in Southeast Asia, like Sri Lanka and the Philippines, due to the tourism traps and overcrowding in Bali. As a result of the overcrowding in Bali there is a clear change in bookings and overcrowding in popular European and Australian tour companies, particularly the high travel season, as there is a clear demand for travel to less populated destinations instead of the more overcrowded Bali.

The Need for Sustainable Travel

Unlike other countries with open borders, Bali had to close its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the reopening, Bali has witnessed the phenomenon of over-tourism, with 6 million people visiting Bali from overseas. Since 2018, many publications have criticized the failure of the tourism industry to sustain Bali’s resources and ecosystems, including water, air and food. This and other related publications have created positive awareness of the need for Sustainable Travel. Since the pandemic, many travelers have prioritized Eco Travel Destinations and Eco-responsible Accommodations. Many tourists want to help keep the environment positive by mitigating unnecessary damage with responsible and Eco-responsible Travel.

The local government and Balinese tourism organisations are taking actions to provide and sustain positive eco-responsible tourism. Eco responsible tourism positive actions, including the promotion of tourism with the positive eco-responsible actions of reducing plastic waste, promotion of positive eco-responsive transport, and eco-controlled tourism of natural parks. Encouragement of community-based tourism, where tourists without access to the environment and local economies, without harming the environment, are encouraged to use and promote.

The Future of Tourism

Sustaining Balinese culture, the natural environment, and the continuing tourism of Bali is the challenge for the tourism industry. Over-tourism is an opportunity to improve the culture of Sustainable Responsible Travel. Balancing the tourism industry with the culture, ecosystems, and communities of Bali is the future of tourism.

Currently, Bali is one of the most loved spots across the globe, but this is dependent on the adaptability to the realities of modern-day tourism. Should tourists become more conscious of the socio-economic impact of their visits, the region could strike a strong socio-economic-ecological balance and retain its charm.