As tourism leaders in Indonesia look to find new ways to implement culturally respectful and sustainable tourism in Bali, new initiatives are being created.
New initiatives and policies, protocols, and metrics can be introduced to ensure that Bali’s cultural heritage is preserved while tourism benefits are boosted.
The Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economies has announced the creation of the Indonesia Quality Tourism Policy.
Following warnings from UNESCO about tourists taking selfies at historical sites, leaders are considering new ways to help ensure sites of historical, cultural, and spiritual significance are not damaged by high volumes of tourists or disrespectful actions by visitors.
Minister Uno’s new Indonesia Quality Tourism Police will help tourism leaders in Bali across the country who are responsible for magnificent landmarks such as the Borobudur Temple complex.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Nia Niscaya, told the weekly press conference, “Yesterday [03/09] we in Bali talked about Indonesia Quality Tourism, and there are criteria and will be processed by the president’s decision as the basis for running quality tourism and will be implemented in the first Borobudur. As soon as it comes out, it will be implemented, and this will be the first thing we do.”
As the Indonesian Quality Tourism Policy legislation is trailed in Borobudur, leaders in Bali will be watching on, mindful that these restrictions will soon be introduced at historical sites in Bali Province.
Niscaya did not outline the Indonesia Quality Tourism restrictions for Borobudur Temple in specific detail. Since it is a trial initiative, things will likely be changed as the trial progresses; photo bans are an option on the table.
Niscaya added, “I think it’s in line with UNESCO because if it’s damaged later, we won’t have anything else. This must be maintained, and this can be amplified to other destinations.”
Borobudur Temple is one of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Indonesia, and there are many more in Bali, too.
The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, for example, have been given UNSECO-protected status, and the Mount Batur Geopark in Kintamani is also under the supervision of UNSECO.
The reason why UNSECO wants to see a limit or total ban on selfies and tourist photos at cultural, historical, and culturally significant destinations is due to the amplifying effect images can have on the number of tourists visiting an area.
In the age of social media, the influence travel photos and videos can have on a destination is astronomical and can create a whole host of problems for tourism managers, many of which Bali has already seen.
In a statement, UNESCO has previously explained, “previously less known destinations have excessive visits because they are circulating on social media, it can have an impact on the environment and local communities.”
“In addition, not only taking photos but sometimes tourists also do disrespectful or harmful acts such as violations, vandalism, even accidents because they compete to get the ideal photo.”
For many Bali tourists, the Indonesian Quality Tourism Policy will have little impact on their travels as and when it is introduced. Photo bans are already in place at many of Bali’s temples. However, photos are often permitted outside the temple complexes.
A prospective photo ban gets tourists asking deeper questions about their travel choices. Would you still visit a destination if you couldn’t take photos to prove it?
It is certainly a policy that could help curb mass tourism and help promote more culturally respectful, engaged, and meaningful travel experiences.
As Bali battles against the rising risks of overtourism, it is clear that big steps need to be taken to project both landmarks and the wider landscape.
Ministers are also in the process of finalizing new legislation that will make it harder for developers to convert agricultural and community-owned land into commercial and tourism developments.
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Kajira
Thursday 12th of September 2024
I'm glad I did "The Overland" from Australia to England before selfie tourism was a thing. Backpacking around the world before Bali (and so many other places) became such tourist traps was enjoyable. Dirt cheap, clean but very basic losmen to stay in at Kuta and plenty of space to lie undisturbed on the beach. Ubud was a dream. I certainly didn't get hassled to spend money left and right and enjoyed locals suggesting places to visit I wouldn't find on my own. Most were free or only had a nominal charge. Nowadays too many people only go somewhere to take a selfie so they can say they've been there/ticked it off a list. No interest in learning about the history, culture or the people. There's a billion places to see, a trillion things to enjoy that don't involve non stop use of your phone camera. Look thru your eyes, not a lens!! Times have definitely changed, and not for the better.
Shorty
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
Their country, their culture and religious practices. They have the absolute right to set the rules and restrictions.
A foreign passport and a visa is not an exemption.
It's arrogant and an obnoxious attitude to expect or want otherwise.
Kajira
Thursday 12th of September 2024
@Shorty, exactly. Tourists think they have the right to do whatever they want, disrespect and trample over local people and interests. These same tourists would be the first to whinge if their hometown was treated that way, if the sheer number of visitors negatively impacted them
Arie den Toom
Saturday 7th of September 2024
What a total miss calculation of the UNESCO. Why let tourists in to those places then anyway. It is time tourists take a stand and forget about Bali at all. By the way, I was totally not impressed by the wat tourists got treated at the Burubadur. I felt like a money tree pay for your ticket get, what was it in total, 30 minutes at the Burubadur temple and move out for the next group of money trees arrives.
Mr Bear Snr
Saturday 7th of September 2024
The old tourism adage was, "Take only pictures, Leave only footprints". No pictures, No footprints, No Visitors, no money!
J West
Friday 6th of September 2024
5555555555555555…..no photo please. My tummy hurts. Dude….. please. Bali must now rush to scrub the internet of all photographs…. and confiscate all cameras at the airport under a sign that says…” Just get drunk but don’t look at anything”.
This reminds me of Amsterdams red light district but with a twist. They’ve put prostitutes in the window…. but insist you can’t go inside if you’ve got a boner. How absurd.