A dreamy beach spot loved by backpackers and tourists has become a "victim of its own success"
Travel blogger Nick Kembel, who works with Taiwan Obsessed, has warned that the paradise island of Bali in Indonesia is "completely overrun" and is a shadow of its former self due to the high numbers of people who head their each year.
"I think Bali is one of the most over-touristed destinations in the world right now. It's attracting Instagram crowds seeking the perfect beach photo against a backdrop of lush rice paddies and Hindu temples," he told The Express. "But this surge in tourism has led to strained infrastructure, environmental issues and the loss of cultural traditions. Certain areas are completely overrun, lacking the tranquillity and charm that initially put Bali on the map."
In 2023, more than five million foreign tourists visited Bali, which has a population of just four million. The island has had several tourist scandals recently, including a tourist who was criticised for posing naked in front of a sacred tree in 2023.
Officials are trying to stop bad behaviour and have talked about possibly banning tourists from using motorbikes. The island has just started a tourist tax which international visitors will have to pay before entry.
Despite the crowds, Nick suggests there are still some parts of the island where you can experience the "real Bali", especially on the eastern side of the hotspot with "deserted beaches" and "sleepy villages". Such is the dilemma of tourism among those who love to travel, if too many people take his advice, then those currently peaceful parts of the island may end up suffering from the same problems as the overstretched parts are now.
Officials on Bali are not taking the issue of overtourism lying down. As of Valentine's Day this year, all foreign visitors entering Bali have had to pay a 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (around £7.50) fee per person and per entry, on top of the 500,000 rupiah (around £25) charge for a 30-day visa to the country.
Since reopening after the Covid lockdowns, the presence of too many, often unruly visitors has become an increasingly charged political issue. The local government has recently proposed banning visitors from renting motorbikes to curb reckless driving, CNN reported. The Indonesian immigration department has been busy deporting foreigners who have been working illegally on tourist visas, including one person working illegally on visitor papers to teach Balinese dance and meditation.
At the end of last year photos began emerging of one of the most popular beaches in Bali covered in rubbish. Monsoon season - which takes place between November and April - brings with it "trash tsunamis" with large amounts of waste washed up on the shores. Kuta Beach has typically been a firm favourite with visitors, but thousands are flocking to it every day causing overcrowding, while the filthy waters have left people swimming among bottles and abandoned shopping bags while children build sandcastles surrounded by waste.
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