Indonesian authorities are working on new regulations to manage tourism development in Bali. Local business owners are researching global tourism destinations to find ways to prevent overtourism.
South Bali is nearing overtourism, much like other famous travel spots worldwide. Each destination offers lessons to learn from.
In Belgium, Bruges recently enacted a rule to reduce short-term vacation rentals in its historic district. The policy also stops new hotel construction. Bruges hopes this will help control rising tourist numbers and prevent future problems.
In 2023, Bruges hosted over 8.2 million tourists, far exceeding its 120,000 residents. Bali faces similar issues as tourism numbers continue to rise.
Shared Concerns
Bruges’ Mayor, Dirk De Fauw, mentioned that residents are worried about the growing number of visitors. He cautioned that uncontrolled tourism could harm the city. Bali residents share these concerns, as they often experience heavy traffic caused by tourists.
Unlike Bali’s many rental villas and resorts, Bruges sees a significant number of day visitors. Mayor De Fauw is hesitant to impose a tax on these tourists, though he is open to exploring solutions.
He added that the city won’t restrict access like Dubrovnik or Venice. However, the rising number of tourists strains both infrastructure and the local community.
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The mayor highlighted the need for sustainable tourism to protect Bruges’ heritage while keeping it lively. Bali’s leaders share this sentiment, also searching for ways to manage tourism responsibly.
Earlier this week, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister confirmed new laws are being drafted to stop agricultural and community land in Bali from turning into tourism properties.
In February 2024, Bali introduced a tourism tax. However, enforcement has been difficult, as around 60% of foreign visitors haven’t paid the tax. Bali’s Tourism Office is now conducting random checks to ensure compliance. The collected funds will support the preservation of the island’s culture, environment, and infrastructure.
Last month, Minister Uno addressed protests in Barcelona against tourism. He stressed that Bali should avoid similar problems. He acknowledged that tourism is vital to Bali’s economy but warned that local frustration could lead to negative outcomes.
Minister Uno is actively promoting less crowded areas of Bali to distribute tourism away from the busy south. He is raising awareness about resorts in the north and west, while also working to improve the island’s connectivity.
The central government supports building a toll road through Bali’s center. This project aims to encourage sustainable tourism growth.
Recently, Indonesia signed agreements with several African nations to develop sustainable tourism models. As cities around the world find solutions to overtourism, Bali will likely adopt some of these strategies.