The Indonesian government has agreed to introduce new bans in a few areas in Bali which will affect Kiwis. Photo / Sophie Peng on Unsplash
The Indonesian government has agreed to introduce new bans in a few areas in Bali which will affect Kiwis. Photo / Sophie Peng on Unsplash
This article was one of Herald Travel’s top stories of 2024.
The Indonesian government has agreed to bring in tough new bans to some areas of Bali as the international tourist mecca grapples with the overdevelopment of the island.
Co-ordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs senior officialHermin Esti told Reuters the government had agreed to temporarily ban the development of hotels, villas and nightclubs in some areas of the island.
While they agreed to a moratorium, Esti said they were still discussing a timeline for the ban.
Indonesian senior minister Luhut Pandajaitan told Detik the moratorium could be in place for about five to ten years.
He said there were about 200,000 expatriates living in Bali which had contributed to crime, overdevelopment and competition for jobs on the island.
Bali’s interim governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said he put forward the moratorium to the central government, and suggested it be implemented in four of Bali’s busiest areas.
He was critical of the overdevelopment of hotels, villas, and beach clubs for commercial purposes.
Government officials are alarmed by the overdevelopment of resorts, hotels, and retreats in Bali, which are the top destinations for travellers. Photo / 123rf
Bali is one of Indonesia’s top tourist attractions, bringing millions of international visitors to the nation each year.
More than 2.9 million foreigners visited Bali in the first half of this year.
Recently, the government has been trying to reform over-tourism in Bali to improve quality, jobs and preserve Balinese culture.
Indonesia introduced a AU$15 ($15.75) tourist tax to foreign visitors entering Bali to improve sustainability and visitor experiences.
The Bali Sun also reported data from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association showed there were 3500 registered hotels in Bali.
For months tourism leaders have been calling for change to how building and development permits were granted to tourism businesses.
It stated people felt the current rate of tourism development in Bali was unsustainable and on track to disaster.
This story was originally published in New Zealand Herald Travel on September 11, 2024.
