The newest anti-tourist protest in Barcelona has provoked unfavorable reactions as a bunch of demonstrators fired water pistols at guests whereas asking them to “Go Residence.”
Such behaviors have been instantly rejected by each native authorities and tourism trade leaders, however the mud raised within the worldwide media has not but settled.
Earlier this yr, Bali was named a brand new “overtourism hotspot in 2023” with 14.6 million worldwide and home vacationers, reported Seasia.information.
Again within the day, the Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Inventive Financial system, Sandiaga Uno, expressed his issues concerning the designation.
“Overtourism worries us as a result of, in actuality, the tourism numbers are nonetheless roughly 30 % decrease in comparison with 2019,” stated the Minister in a press convention on Jan. 3.
Barcelona’s water-pistol scenario has introduced contemporary issues.
Whereas visiting Jembrana Regency in Bali final week, Minister Uno stated: “Issues like Barcelona [protests] shouldn’t occur in Bali. As a result of if folks really feel uncomfortable with the presence of vacationers, dangerous excesses emerge. In reality, tourism is without doubt one of the financial drivers in Bali.”
However can Bali be in comparison with Barcelona? – Let’s evaluate the numbers.
Recognizing that Bali has a territory of 5,780 km² whereas Barcelona solely has 101.4 km², in 2023 the Island of Gods obtained 5,2 million worldwide guests and 9.4 million nationwide vacationers, representing a rise of 144.61% over the earlier yr. In the meantime, Barcelona alone will get a mean of 32 million guests yearly in a smaller territory.
The actual concern in Bali is that the majority vacationers have a tendency to go to and spend the evening in the identical areas.
That’s why Minister Uno has repeatedly voiced the necessity for Indonesia to advertise extra decentralized tourism to stop vacationers from concentrating in the identical hotspots, creating issues related to overtourism.
One of many options, the minister believes, is dashing up the development of the Probowangi Toll Street in East Java and the Mengwi-Gillimanuk Toll Street in West Bali so vacationers may be redistributed throughout the province.
This fashion, “vacationers will not be solely concentrated in South Bali but additionally in West Bali, which may be related with Banyuwnagi,” he stated.
Bali is already going through points with vacationers breaking legal guidelines and disrespecting the native tradition.
Forward of summer time, the federal government needed to reissue an inventory of do’s and don’ts when visiting Bali.
“Vacationers who come should regulate their targets when coming to Indonesia. For those who deviate out of your targets, for instance working right here, motion should be taken.”
Bali’s tourism trade is flourishing with extra vacationers coming yearly. Thus, it’s of paramount significance that the federal government accelerates the event of the infrastructure required to host so many individuals whereas defending locals.
In December 2023, the island had a lodge occupancy price of over 90 %. If authorities don’t work on methods to cease potential points, we shouldn’t blame Balinesses in the event that they resolve to get their water weapons prepared.
