Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies has spoken to the press about the risk of overtourism in Bali and his take on the recent protests in Barcelona, where local communities made their feelings known about the rise of mass tourism in their city.
![Tourists on a Busy Padang Padang Beach in Uluwatu Bali.jpg](https://thebalisun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Minister-Says-Barcelona-Style-Tourism-Protests-Have-No-Place-In-Bali.jpg)
Many tourism leaders and political figures in Bali, as well as community members and frequently returning visitors of the island, feel that over-tourism is already present on the stand.
Working from the definition that overtourism can appear in specific locations and not only affect a destination as a whole, many people feel that Bali has tipped over from mass tourism to overtourism in some areas.
Over-tourism can lead to a multitude of negative consequences, one of which can be dissatisfaction, frustration, and animosity from local communities toward tourists and the tourism sector.
This is a scenario that has played out in Barcelona in recent weeks, where local community members took to the streets in protest and even sprayed tourists with water pistols, telling them to go home.
@cbseveningnews Thousands of mass #tourism protesters marched through #Barcelona over the weekend, with some shooting water guns at #travelers who were dining in popular neighborhoods. The #demonstrators are angered by mass tourism and its impacts on #Spain's most visited city. #news #travel #protest #tourists #europe ♬ original sound – CBSEveningNews
Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, has issued his reasons to those how fear over tourism is present in Bali and that the island is at risk of seeing Barcelona-style ports against tourists and the tourist sector in the near future.
Speaking from Jembrana Regency in Bali in the last few days, Minster Uno said, “Things like that the Barcelona protests] should not happen in Bali. Because if people feel uncomfortable with the presence of tourists, bad excesses emerge. In fact, tourism is one of the economic drivers in Bali.”
@tgla7 📌 Migliaia di persone hanno affollato il centro di Barcellona per manifestare contro il turismo di massa. Le proteste continuano da settimane e questa volta i manifestanti hanno bloccato le entrate di hotel e locali ai visitatori. Solo il mese scorso il sindaco di Barcellona aveva annunciato che non avrebbe rinnovato le licenze di oltre 10mila appartamenti affittati ai turisti. Se approvata, la legge avrà efficacia a partire dal 2029. #tgla7
♬ suono originale – Tg La7
One way to ensure that overtourism does not become widespread in Bali and to reduce the risk of animosity towards tourism and tourism sectors is to strike the right balance between prioritizing the needs of local communities and the wants of tourists.
Minister Uno also wants to see tourism spread more evenly throughout the province, something that he has advocated for the whole time he has been Tourism Minister.
He reiterated that this is one reason he wants to see more progress made on the Probowangi Toll Road in East Java and the Mengwi-Gillimanuk Toll Road in West Bali to help redistribute tourism across the province.
Minster Uno said that the opening of these two toll roads would be beneficial “so that tourists are not only concentrated in South Bali but also in West Bali, which can be connected with Banyuwnagi.”
Minster Uno also wants to see the small minority of badly behaved foreigners held to account in a swift and appropriate way.
He told reporters “Tourists who come must adjust their goals in coming to Indonesia. If you deviate from your goals [of tourism activities] for example working here, action must be taken.”
![Digital-Nomad-Works-on-Laptop-By-Pool](https://thebalisun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Digital-Nomad-Works-on-Laptop-By-Pool.jpg)
The rise in the number of reports of foreigners acting in culturally disrespectful ways and breaking the law in Bali over the last 2-years has been a source of debate amongst many local communities and international Bali lovers.
Bali has shown a united front against foreigners who break the law, disturb public order and peace, and behave in culturally disrespectful ways.
![Tirta-Empul-in-Bali-with-Tourists-Queuing-Busy](https://thebalisun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tirta-Empul-in-Bali-with-Tourists-Queuing-Busy.jpg)
In recent weeks, the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, called a coordination meeting that aimed to help stakeholders share information on how each agency and institution had handled incidences of foreigners behaving badly and breaking the law, according to their authority.
Pemayun said that the meeting focused “especially on tourists who act up in Bali and are in the public spotlight both nationally and internationally.”
![Sanur-Beach-Busy-With-Tourists](https://thebalisun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sanur-Beach-Busy-With-Tourists.jpg.webp)
He called on the public to report any and all incidences of foreigners breaking the law and disrespecting local culture to the relevant authorities as soon as possible so that swift action could be taken.
All stakeholders felt this would help promote peace and harmony on the island in the long term, bringing benefits to both local people and ensuring tourists have a safe and memorable visit.
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Wayan Mataram
Friday 19th of July 2024
Over tourism is relative. The reality is that Bali is now overloaded : Ground 💧 water had been over withdrawn , trash accumulation (solid MSW and liquid wastes - unavailable proper waste processing and treatment). environment damaged, uncontrol land utilisation, 🚥 traffic jam&congestion, unorganised overhead electricity cables including ,communication,internet cables instead of ground cabling system, no proper drainage of rain water and sewer & treatment system
Exp
Sunday 21st of July 2024
@Wayan Mataram, Do not to forget the poisonous smoke from burning Suwung landfill reaching even canggu tourist zone...
LINK
Wayan Bo
Friday 19th of July 2024
It’s impossible to compare cosmopolitan European Kingdom of Spain with RI, because there are light years in between 🤣
[email protected]
Thursday 18th of July 2024
You most understand the situation in Barcelona!! It’s the mass of tourist coming with the cruise boats and overloading the city! No benefits for the local business!
JWest
Thursday 18th of July 2024
@[email protected], maybe you're mistaking Barcelona with Venice. The problem in Barcelona is the conversion of a majority of apartments into short term Air B&B causing a shortage of residential units for locals to live. Bottom line though, it's the greed of landlords not tourists causing the problem....sound familiar?
G
Thursday 18th of July 2024
🤣😂❗❗TOO: LATE, FOR ( THOSE ) ANYWAYS ❗❗😂🤣
Josh
Thursday 18th of July 2024
Bali beats Barcelona for hospitality any time - despite a few whingers now and then.
Thommo
Friday 19th of July 2024
@Josh, your making me feel like that whinger. Alas its true,I do though love many aspects of Bali/ Indo but after 4 decades of experience and observation one cant keep a blind eye to its self afflicted ever heightening problems. Blatant polluting of the enviroment, corruption, unaccountable out of control building/villa development, dangerous intense road traffic and terrible road condition. High levels of poverty whilst money and profits are being sucked away offshore and to corrupt pockets. Surging rise of beach clubs that will re-define its culture that an incompetent island and regency, village governance cant control. Or plan for. But hey lets all see it as a first time tourist, turn a blind eye and absorb the Island of the gods and paradise propaganda and indoctrination.
Andy
Friday 19th of July 2024
@Josh, Just got back from Bali. I agree completely. The locals I interacted with were extremely kind and hospitable.