The influx of foreign tourists to Bali continues to grow rapidly. From January to August 2024, the number of foreign arrivals reached 4,465,685. This represents an increase of 823,789 people, or 22.62%, compared to the same period in 2023. In August 2024, 616,641 foreign tourists visited the island, which is 1.44% fewer than in July.
However, comparing these figures to August 2023 shows that interest in Bali from international visitors is still on the rise. Last year, during the same period, there were 18% fewer guests.
Moreover, occupancy rates for starred hotels are increasing across the board. In July 2024, the rate stood at 68.78%, but by August, demand for such accommodations rose to 70.16%. Comparing these figures to August 2023 reveals further growth—back then, hotel occupancy was at 60.64%. The statistics also reflect that travelers are opting for longer vacations.
As a result, Bali has started to appear on lists of the most overcrowded holiday destinations. Leading international travel publications, such as CNN Travel, The Independent, and Fodor’s Travel, are discussing over-tourism on the Island of the Gods, warning that it’s becoming a reason for reconsidering travel plans.
For example, Fodor’s Travel reports nine regions that should be avoided in 2024 due to overcrowding, with top spots including Venice, Athens, and Mount Fuji in Japan. Bali ranks 8th on this list, between Barcelona and Amsterdam.
All these places share a common problem. The high volume of tourists complicates waste management, harms the environment, and drives inflation.
The News Asia channel also named Bali a victim of over-tourism, highlighting how significantly the island has changed because of it. Journalists pointed to rampant construction without any consideration for urban planning, along with inevitable traffic congestion.
However, there is no talk of a complete boycott of the island just yet, especially since not all of Bali is overcrowded—only the most popular resorts. For this reason, local authorities are actively developing new routes to attract tourists to lesser-known and underrated places and attractions.
Moreover, there is a pressing question about how to ensure that the high demand for Bali vacations benefits the local population. Experts remain doubtful that this is happening.
Kadek Sudiarsana, a professor at the Faculty of Law at Mulawarman University, believes that the “quality” of tourists should be improved, as should the level of tourist infrastructure. He suggests monitoring the economic background of travelers and allowing entry only to those with a certain level of savings in their accounts.
“For Bali residents, it’s important not to easily give up their land rights or to shift fertile land exclusively for tourism purposes. On the contrary, tourism should become an additional source of income that eliminates the need to sell land.”
As for the countries whose tourists most frequently visit Bali, Australia leads the way as usual, with 142,884 visitors in August 2024. Other top five countries include China (44,331 visitors), India (45,525 visitors), France (36,334 visitors), and the United Kingdom (31,055 visitors).
August also stood out for the sharp increase in Italian visitors, with a rise of 175% compared to July 2024.
In general, tourists from Europe and Oceania are traditionally the most frequent guests in Bali. Regarding Indonesia as a whole, tourists from ASEAN countries dominate domestic travel.
Sources: Bali Post, Detik Travel.
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