ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Bali is listed as one of the cities in the world that experiences overtourism during January-November 2023 according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. This happened after the Covid-19 pandemic, where the tourism sector grew rapidly.
The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts the global tourism sector will generate $9.5 trillion in 2023, an increase of 95 percent from the pre-pandemic period.
This surge in visits has had a positive impact on local businesses and the economy, but it has also brought negative impacts such as noise, pollution, traffic and pressure on public resources.
The Bali Tourism Office recorded that foreign tourist visits to Bali from January to December 26 2023 reached more than 5.2 million people, while domestic tourist visits were more than 9.4 million people.
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has even required tourists to attach a list of permitted and prohibited behaviors to their passports, such as prohibiting swearing, touching sacred trees or climbing buildings. In addition, foreign tourists must pay a tax of 150 thousand rupiah starting February 14 2024.
Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, stressed the need to shift to a more sustainable tourism model, attract longer-stay visitors and contribute more to the local economy. Alternatively, tourists are advised to visit Bali during the rainy season, such as October-April, to avoid crowds.
“Overtourism is our concern because the actual number of tourists compared to 2019 is still below around 30%,” said Sandiaga in a press conference, Wednesday, January 3 2024.
The Central Statistics Agency recorded the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia until November 2023, reaching 10.4 million visits. This number is slightly lower than 2019 which recorded 14.7 million visits.
Apart from Bali, several cities around the world also experience overtourism, including Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Miami, Paris, Phuket and Venice, with each facing challenges and taking action to overcome this problem. (AT Network)
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