It’s been a little under a month since a devastating fire ravaged the New Ubud Art Market in the center of the popular tourist town.
The art market, which had only opened to the public in April 2023, was a new development after the original art market also burned down.
As investigators and police continue to piece together the events of August 17th, the aftermath is still impacting tourism, traders, and nearby businesses.
As the investigation continues, the basement of the Ubud Art Market remains closed. Some traders have moved outside the building, while others in areas of the ground floor less affected by the blaze have also been able to start trading again. Yet, the Ubud Art Market is a show of its former glory, with evidence of the fire visible from every angle.
Ubud is one of the busiest tourist towns in Bali. With tourists visiting on day trips from the southern coast or using the surrounding villages as a base to explore the tropical jungles and central highlands of the island, Ubud is busier than ever.
Ubud Art Market, aside from cultural landmarks like Ubud Palace, the Saraswati Temple, and the Campuhan Ridge Walk, is amongst the most in-demand tourist attractions. Located in the very heart of bustling Ubud, the impact of a fire-stricken art market building is having an effect not only on market traders but on nearby business owners too.
Ubud Art Market is situated on Jalan Raya Ubud, the town’s high street. The relatively narrow street is lined with dozens of restaurants, bars, and boutique shops, as is Jalan Monkey Forest, which runs along the western edge of the building. Local restaurants have spoken to reporters about the aftermath of the fire on their businesses.
According to many business owners close to Ubud Art Market, the smell of rubber and burning is driving off-putting diners and tourists exploring the area.
One restauranteur, who wished to remain anonymous, explained, “The guest had already sat at the table, but when he smelled the smell of smoke, he immediately canceled. This has happened frequently since the market fire.”
The restauranteur shared his candid fears that the police investigation could be slow and that the market, much of which is now secured as a crime scene, could tarnish the reputation of Ubud as a travel destination. He was concerned that tourists might mistake the lingering smell of the fire for residents burning trash.
The business said, “I hope the police investigation process will be completed soon, the cause will be found, and the crime scene can be cleaned up so that the smell of the wind can disappear soon.”
Reporters have also spoken with guesthouse, homestay, and bed and breakfast owners in the central Ubud area, who have also noted that guests have been checking out earlier than anticipated.
In response to these observations, Gianyar Regional House of Representatives Member (DPRD) Made Budiasa offered his understanding to affected businesses and tourists visiting Ubud. He noted that the smell is not only unpleasant but could also be affecting public health.
The local political told reporters, “We at the Gianyar DPRD will immediately schedule a trip to the field to find a solution to overcome this problem. Because the council’s supporting apparatus has not been formal, we can no currently act.”
Tourists planning visits to Ubud have access to all of Jalan Raya Ubud, Jalan Monkey Forest, and the small alleyways in and around Ubud Art Market.
It is only the building itself that is off-limits, but the surrounding pedestrian access is clear.
In addition to the dozens of boutique shops around central Ubud, art markets can also be found at the Ubud Street Market on Jalan Karna and at the entrance to the Juwuk Manis Rice Field Walk, known locally as the Prianka Ubud Art Market on Jalan Kajeng.
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Edny vanden Broek
Thursday 12th of September 2024
It is sad the minister does not see or know that the direct Moscow flights and access for Russians will do greater harm to Bali in one year than fifty years of "the old groups from Australia and EU. Not only their drinking but their disrespect for Bali,s culture and peace will become the downfall for Bali. In Ubud they built apartments concrete like bunkers and they have created already a disharmony. Get Russians out or charge them tenfold visa fees and deliver passport at arrival. Yours Edny van den Broek.
M
Thursday 12th of September 2024
Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum...
The old market burned down, nobody arrested, no learned lessons. The new market burned down, nobody arrested, no learned lessons.
Just as help: nobody parks motorcycles inside a marketplace, nobody's cooking with open flames or burning some little trash piles (opsy the wind...) or just smoking his kretek. Of course all the anti-fire installations are at norma and regularly inspected.
Ironic mode [OFF]
Of course it could be that one of the well maintained vehicles in the basement took fire, but that's another problem which the Indonesian Government will never tackle. How to explain millions of citizens that galf of the motorcycles shouldn't even roll on public roads.. Let's see what's coming out this time.
Meanwhile my thoughts are with the families who are suffering from the missing incomes from their work at the Art Market and the lower number of Tourist in nearby areas.
Exp
Friday 13th of September 2024
@M, From what I have seen it is a miracle that more fires are not the case.
Look at the atrocious quality and lack of safety features of the cheap gas cylinder regulators, hoses and rubber seals they sell here. Often installed with substandard hardware and no leak tests. And obviously in 99% of the cases they locate the gas cylinder under the gas stove instead of outdoor.
I feel sorry for the many hardworking ibu ibu that are handling this danger on a daily basis.
I have sourced Japanese made gas regulators at our villa and trained staff how to manage gas leaks. The gas cylinders often arrive from supplier with rubber seals that are damaged or having manufacturing defects causing leaks -- hence need to be replaced.
Kitchen need to be equipped with both foam and powder fire fighting extinguishers due to the different type of fires that can happen.
Exp
Thursday 12th of September 2024
"According to many business owners close to Ubud Art Market, the smell of rubber and burning is driving off-putting diners and tourists exploring the area."
Meanwhile; residents and tourists have to endure smell from unhealthy smoke everywhere; Exhaust fumes and trash burning. Not to mention smell from rotting trash thrown everywhere. Bali gov. need to take this issue seriously.