Bali environmental groups protest further tourism development amid record visitor numbers

Environmental organizations Kekal Bali, Frontier Bali, and Walhi Bali staged a demonstration in Central Denpasar earlier this month to call for a halt to further tourism development on the Indonesian island. GB News reported that the groups argued Bali has reached a critical point where it must choose between economic expansion and environmental protection.

The coalition stated that rapid tourism growth has outpaced the island's ability to manage its effects.

Excessive visitor numbers have led to the annual conversion of approximately 1,125 hectares of agricultural land, increased waste, and greater pressure on water resources, according to the groups. The majority of hotels rely on groundwater extraction, with star-rated hotels using at least 800 liters per room each day.

I Wayan Sathya Tirtayasa, Secretary General of Frontier Bali, said the protest used the phrase "The Great Plague," or "Grubug Agung," to highlight a crisis that extends into social and democratic areas.

"We view that the problems occurring in Bali are not isolated," he said. " The groups demanded safeguards for human rights defenders and environmental campaigners challenging government policies. Bali receives over 16.4 million domestic and international tourists each year, and tourism accounts for nearly 80 percent of the island's economy.

Tripadvisor named Bali the top travel destination in the world this year.