Indonesia agreed to stop building hotels, villas, and nightclubs in some areas of Bali to control over-development. A senior ministry official announced this on Monday.
The government aims to improve tourism in Bali and create better quality jobs while also preserving the island’s culture. Hermin Esti, a senior official, confirmed the moratorium decision, though the exact timing is still being discussed.
The proposal for the moratorium came from Bali’s interim governor, who suggested it for four busy areas to halt commercial development like hotels, villas, and beach clubs.
The moratorium could last up to 10 years, as stated by senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan. He has expressed concerns about the impact of the large number of foreigners living in Bali, leading to issues like crime and job competition.
Since reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, Bali has seen a significant increase in foreign arrivals, with 2.9 million visitors coming through the airport in the first half of the year. The rise in tourism has led to viral videos of misbehaving tourists, causing frustration among residents and social media users in Indonesia.
Government data shows that there were 541 hotels in Bali last year, up from 507 in 2019. This trend reflects the rapid growth and development in the tourism sector on the island.
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