Indonesian leaders are drafting new legislation to control tourism development in the province. Tourism business owners are studying international travel hotspots to find ways to reduce overtourism risks.
South Bali is nearing overtourism, similar to many famous global travel destinations. Each location offers valuable lessons to learn from.
In Belgium, the city of Bruges recently implemented a policy to cut down on short-term vacation rental properties in the historic center. This policy also prohibits the creation of new hotels. Bruges aims to manage its rising visitor numbers and avoid future issues.
In 2023, Bruges welcomed over 8.2 million tourists, far surpassing its population of 120,000. Bali faces similar challenges as visitor numbers grow.
Shared concerns
Bruges’ Mayor, Dirk De Fauw, noted that residents are concerned about the overwhelming number of visitors. He warned that unchecked tourism could lead to rapid decline. Bali residents share this frustration, often facing long traffic delays due to tourist congestion.
Unlike Bali’s resorts and villas for rent, Bruges attracts a large number of day visitors. Mayor De Fauw expressed reluctance to tax daytrippers but is open to considering similar solutions.
He emphasized that while the city won’t limit access like Dubrovnik or Venice, the influx of tourists places pressure on infrastructure and the community.
The mayor stressed the importance of managing tourism sustainably to protect Bruges’ heritage while keeping the city vibrant. His sentiments echo those of Bali’s leaders, who are also looking for solutions.
Earlier this week, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism confirmed that he is drafting new laws to prevent agricultural and community-owned land in Bali from being developed into tourism properties.
In February 2024, Bali introduced a tourism tax, but officials have struggled to enforce it. About 60% of international visitors haven’t paid the tax. Now, the Bali Tourism Office is conducting regular spot checks to ensure compliance. These funds will help protect the island’s culture, environment, and infrastructure.
Last month, Minister Uno addressed anti-tourism protests in Barcelona, stating that Bali should avoid similar issues. He emphasized that tourism drives Bali’s economy, but discontent among residents could lead to negative consequences.
Minister Uno is actively promoting lesser-visited areas of Bali to spread tourism beyond the overcrowded south. He aims to raise awareness about resorts in the north and west and improve island-wide connectivity.
The central government has also supported plans to build a toll road through Bali’s center, a step toward sustainable tourism growth.
Recently, Indonesia signed agreements with African nations to create sustainable tourism models. As more cities find solutions to overtourism, Bali will likely consider these strategies.