This island is really saying enough to tourists. No new hotels will be built on it

Bali, beloved by tourists, has said “enough” to overtourism not for the first time. At the beginning of 2024, the Indonesian island decided to introduce a mandatory fee for visitors from abroad. The tax of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (equivalent to about 40 złoty) is not the only change that travelers flying to the “Island of the Gods” must expect. According to new government plans, some regions of Bali will be banned from building new hotels, villas and nightclubs.

Overtourism in Bali

The island of Bali is known not only for its beautiful beaches, waterfalls and unique culture (the dominant religion in Indonesia is Islam, while the Balinese mainly practice Balinese Hinduism). Tourists from all over the world flock to the popular seaside resorts on the island also because of the attractive prices of attractions, accommodation and food. Although Bali is definitely more expensive than competing countries such as Vietnam or Thailand, you can still find luxury villas with pools here for a fraction of the cost of booking a similar property in Europe. Some regions of Bali are struggling with excessive development of the area with tourist facilities. The problem is especially visible near popular resorts in the south of the island, such as Kuta, Canggu and Ubud.

Ban on hotel construction

As a result of the increasingly serious damage caused by tourism that is developing too quickly, the Indonesian government has decided to introduce a temporary ban on the construction of new hotels, villas and nightclubs. Although the exact area and timeline of the changes are not yet known, it is known that the suspension of further investments may last for up to 10 years. “Since Bali reopened to tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of arrivals from abroad has increased (…). There are currently around 200,000 foreigners living in Bali, which contributes to problems such as crime and competition for jobs with locals,” said the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.