Bali, an island within the country of Indonesia, has garnered wide recognition among both tourists and the general public for its unique culture, spiritual background, friendly locals, and mesmerizing vistas. Such an image has consequently materialized in the high inflow of tourists to the island. They consist of both first-timers and returnees who desire more than recreation. This, in turn, puts Bali on a deserving list of aspirational hot spots. Recently, Bali has caught much attention due to the trend of Hollywood to frequent any place and get it featured on the news just by their presence. Although it is indeed no question why the limelight is on Bali, there still lie several issues yet to be solved or altogether unraveled. Through an analytical lens, this essay shall attempt to uncover the existing issues, focusing mainly on the inundation of economic benefits of the grossly swelled tourism sector in Bali. With the current state of affairs, the essay will explore the holistic implications of overdevelopment (economic, social, etc.) of Bali on a holistic front, notably on the local landscape, culture, economic dynamics, natural transformation, and on the vigorous tourist influx.
Like erosion that splinters topsoil, overdevelopment in any destination leads to a loss of tradition and local customs transmitted through heritage. Both the Balinese and the wave of foreign nationals have contributed to a living canvas of Bali. It is an island blend of different cultures with deep imprints engraved on the traditions here, including architectural features, idiosyncrasies, dialects, music, arts, handicrafts, and much more. In a parallel correlation, there is a growing number of instances where the increasing foreign population is not drawn to Bali for its cultural offerings but merely for economic benefits. Many ‘Balis’ do exist elsewhere due to the savvy chances of eking a living selling Bali. Culture and the undercurrents of faith and belief are imperceptibly eroding, reduced to what the island may have been long ago from one ironic perspective; based on commercial transactions.
Historical and Cultural Context of Bali
Bali is a world-renowned island located within Indonesia’s archipelago. A centuries-old culture and social system, along with a deep connection to their environment and agriculture, define the identity of its population, the vast majority of whom are of Balinese descent. Life is structured around a cycle of ritual offerings for the island’s spiritual deities and ancestors, and communal customs and traditions form a backbone for daily life. Every aspect of the Balinese world is sacred, obliging the island’s residents to conform to these traditional duties. For a long time, Bali was under the influence of various kingdoms and governments, as well as regular inflows of traders, religious travelers, and visiting cultural delegations. All of these factors have combined to shape the culture that is now renowned for its religious affiliation and underlying peacefulness.
Aging societies and a decreasing agricultural industry have come about due to the expansion of the tourism industry. However, the Balinese still adhere to religious principles and local traditions that are proving to be resilient against external forces. Bali’s identity is intrinsically linked to agriculture, resulting in a need for community-level cooperation over generations. A decentralized water temple system was relied upon in the pursuit of these practices, evidence of which still remains today. Water is diverted through canals and subaks that bring it to terraced fields, supporting the cultivation of rice paddies in this predominantly agricultural community. Religious and customary water temples were often the hub of water management activities, and the operation and timing of water subaks were the responsibility of these temples. Ritual activities associated with water temples synthesize local land-based knowledge with spiritual or religious beliefs to optimize water resources for agriculture. Indigenous technology was utilized in the past, which began within a paddy field consortium and then spread to the adjacent subaks. Until the present day, religious and social activities are rooted in the practices of small groups of farmers.
Tourism Boom in Bali
Bali is the most famous and fastest-growing tourist destination in Indonesia. The number of travelers to this island is also increasing rapidly. The many awards received by this island have pushed up the image of this Indonesian island, including one of the best islands in the world. In addition to charming natural beauty, the culture of the local Balinese population has become one of the primary attractions that can lure foreign tourists. The arrival of foreign tourists to Bali to enjoy the natural beauty of the island beaches is recorded to have increased every year. The vast number of foreign tourists visiting Bali goes to Indonesia under the Bali destination. This impact of Bali also triggers demand for people who want to know Indonesia and the culture of the Indonesian people.
The tourism boom in Bali has become a “magnet” for investors to plunge their capital into the island of the gods. It is also related to various sectors that provide jobs for residents and absorb labor, such as hotels, restaurants, spas, shopping centers, entertainment venues, training facilities, and others. In the development aspect, the government of Bali has built various infrastructure supports and public facilities connecting each area. Bali’s tourism infrastructure development also includes transportation, which has been expanded to accommodate international tourist flights. A number of five-star hotel facilities, motels, villas, resorts, restaurants, and shopping centers are built in Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, and Sanur. Today, the rapid development of Kuta and surrounding areas also causes feelings of anxiety and restlessness. A number of available hotels may not be commensurate with the condition of coastal ecosystems, as all the southern beaches of Bali are beginning to experience over-exploitation.
Negative Impacts of Overdevelopment
The multifaceted negative effect of overdevelopment is being increasingly documented. One of the most worrying impacts of overdevelopment is related to the environment. Because of the massive growth of the tourism sector, the locals have suffered from a depletion of natural assets, wild and forest resources, and biodiversity. Deforestation, pollution, natural resource degradation, coral harassment, and biodiversity loss are the most evident cases of environmental consequences. The diversity of life is threatened due to habitat destruction and living space depletion as the main result of overdevelopment in the southern part of Bali. In addition, overdevelopment has other social consequences. The local way of living is being disrupted, and Balinese culture is facing issues such as discrimination, the marginalization of ethnic groups, crime, and violence involving tourists. The island has also seen a considerable urban spread that is usually related to the overdevelopment of an area. This has accompanied the modernization of the island and changes in real estate, consumption patterns, and lifestyle. Economic inequality has risen, fueling the landlord’s position and housing-related citizenship disputes, often involving local residents. Local residents who benefit from tourism and those who do not are distinguished mainly because of their access to and demand for land, tourism skills, and potential patronage from employers. Social alienation from tourist activities based on unpleasant policies, long days, long-distance journeys, lower salaries, and a lack of employment opportunities. The daily lives and health threats to the public are directly or indirectly linked to tourism. Thus, the development process is impacting society in deeper ways. Research on the effects of tourism on human health has been lacking, which is particularly significant given the developed and developing countries that rely increasingly on tourism. The diversification of economic activities is important for the reduction of people’s vulnerability, not just for profits. There are also the devastating effects of overdevelopment on the overall dimensions of living, including biodiversity and direct threats to the viability of Balinese culture, including aesthetic and cultural consequences.
Sustainable Solutions and Future Prospects
Based on the severity of the current situation in Bali, adopting a more sustainable approach to tourism development is imperative. Eco-friendly tourism is the need of the hour, respectful of both the environment and local people, going hand in hand with the development and promotion of Bali’s cultural treasures and traditional arts. The following sections provide an overview of potential environmentally oriented and culturally focused sustainable solutions in even more detail. The case studies depict these kinds of practices from other parts of the world. We aim to reinvent the “last dances” of Bali with more sustainable practices.
At present, the situation on the ground follows the drift of road widening and steady real estate growth under the sponsorship of the new highway. In 1970, about 3% of the island’s land was reserved as national parks, with the boundaries of the reserves growing wider, providing hope for a flourishing wildlife sanctuary. You can tell from the map where these protected areas would have been, but encroaching reality now makes them stages for banana plantations and golf resorts. While conservation programs have been affected by an increasing build-up of residential, industrial, and commercial estates, due to rapid deforestation, erosion, and declining water quality in protected reservoirs, not much consideration is given to pollution control. Today, development proposals are of concern with the implementation of the Masterplan for Bali’s environmental, economic, and social rehabilitation. A number of local and non-governmental organizations strongly advocate for the execution of spatial and physical growth constraints on the island through strict policy planning, consistent construction regulations, and prohibiting illegal land sales and settlements. In accordance with earlier recommendations by the Indonesian government, the collaboration is encouraging the piloting of community-based eco-tourism programs in areas other than the settled community, as well as various aspects of sustainable growth and cultural conservation.