January 11, 2021
Bali needs little introduction. It is the most famous of the 17,508 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago. Since the opening of its international airport in the late 1960s, the island has been a sought-after tourist destination for backpackers, honeymooners and families alike. I was one of 6.3 million foreign tourists lucky enough to set foot on Bali’s shores in 2019, before Bali indefinitely closed its doors to foreigners in March 2020. With 80% of people in Bali directly or indirectly reliant on tourism, economic loss has hit this island hard. However, mass tourism has also bought ethical and environmental issues to Bali that have come to the forefront of international attention in recent years. These plague Bali’s pristine reputation, and may be even more detrimental to its tourism sector in the long-term.