What's happened
Indonesia has announced a moratorium on new hotel, villa, and nightclub constructions in Bali to address overdevelopment and preserve agricultural land. The timeline for the moratorium could extend up to ten years, as tourism surges post-pandemic, raising concerns about local infrastructure and cultural integrity.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the moratorium is a response to the strain on local infrastructure and culture due to increased tourism, with senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan stating, 'We don’t want to see paddy fields become a villa or become a nude club.' Meanwhile, Business Insider UK highlights that the moratorium could last up to ten years, depending on evaluations. The Independent notes that the surge in foreign arrivals has led to rising tensions, with locals frustrated by unruly tourist behavior. South China Morning Post emphasizes the need to preserve agricultural land amid the tourism boom, indicating a broader governmental effort to reform Bali's tourism landscape.
How we got here
Bali has seen a significant increase in tourism, with 2.9 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2024. This surge has led to concerns over congestion, environmental degradation, and disrespectful tourist behavior, prompting local authorities to propose a building moratorium.
Common question
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What Does Indonesia's Moratorium on New Developments in Bali Mean for Tourism?
Indonesia's recent decision to halt new hotel, villa, and nightclub constructions in Bali has raised many questions about the future of tourism on the island. As the tourism industry rebounds post-pandemic, this moratorium aims to address overdevelopment and protect Bali's cultural and environmental integrity. Here are some common questions and answers regarding this significant policy change.
More on these topics
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Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of more than seventeen thousand islands, including Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. Indonesia i
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Bali is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.
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The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.