BALI AND TOURISM
The increasing number of tourists to the island in the last decade has boosted tourism-related investment. Bali has seen 15 percent foreign tourist arrival growth each year.Last year, more than 4 million foreign tourists visited the destination, excluding foreign tourists traveling to Bali indirectly via domestic flights and sea transportation. The island also welcomed at least 7 million domestic tourists in 2015.
Unfortunately, the development of Bali tourism is not being controlled. We allege that there are many hotels operating without legal permits. The development of new facilities also tends to damage the surrounding environment. Bali is a small island with limited natural resources. It should be managed properly as one island, priorities should be given to tourism development in the others side of island at northern, eastern and western part of Bali. Bali government must improve transportation infrastructure to ease access to other parts of Bali.
Here as local and practitioner in the tourism industry I see the whole island and its tourism sector in a different light. There is a good and an evil to this island resort.
They came for the Island of the Gods, the special getaway with the mysticism of the jungles and the serenity of the beaches. What they created, with their endless planes of arrivals, was an urban chaos. Traffic, development and overt commercialisation have not only clogged up the infrastructure, they have suppressed much of the culture.
Nowadays especially in southern part of Bali and Ubud, everyday is the new concrete buildings that have sprung up here by the side of the road. And traffic jam not only about rush hour sometimes can be happened by night almost 10pm down southern part of Bali or Ubud. Especially Kuta and Seminyak.
Walk down in Kuta and Seminyak,and it looks air-conditioned, which is always nice after a couple of hours in the sun. But it doesn’t look Balinese… or even Indonesian. It looks like a Bangkok supermall has been merged with an Australian beachside shopping centre. Sunglasses and icecream outside, high-end fashion and fast food inside.
All along the beach strip, international chains are increasing their dominance. The shops which have remained independent are even falling into the homogenous tourist pool, though. Beer holder with Australian football team logo’s, art craft made in China into phone cover and T-shirt and others souvenir exactly like you also can find in Singapore or Bangkok.
The Balinese, for the most part, seem to be quite content balancing their own beliefs and heritage with the influx of foreigners. Once infrastructure start develop like new Batam or Singapore even, a new Airport with toll road and underpass, it will have a positive effect on a lot of the traffic congestion that visitors and locals currently suffer. But it will also mean it will become easier for tourists to get to some of these further away locations. Perhaps they will bring the commercialisation with them and the corruption will just spread.
HERE SOMETHING YOU PERHAPS DON’T DO IN BALI
Supporting local economic by support local run business will help and create a sustainable tourism for Bali and local there.
Bali is Heaven on earth. Be kind, be thoughtful and be considerate, and you will have a wonderful journey.
Don’t eat Western Food or expecting your own country food. You are in Bali, and the food is fresh and very good. Enjoy the tropical fruits, and more. Tourism does not give huge impact for local worker for decades of tourism in Bali, most of it Bali standard living cost are cheap as local worker are paid quit cheap in Bali. Tip as service charges are perhaps in some restaurant are already included but like small hostel or homestay or wrung perhaps not. As if you can afford to go to Bali, you can afford to be a little generous.
Don’t get annoyed when you are hassled at the volcano, or when you go to visit a temples, or any other tourist place by the hawkers. They need to make a living.
Don’t take drugs or use narcotic in Bali, as a new country rule in Indonesia a death penalty for drug dealer and smugler .This is all of Indonesia and Bali, where the death penalty exists, and there is little tolerance for drugs, and rightly so.
Don’t order drink mix from untrusted source liquor as in many case Bali and Indonesia are very high in mixing alcohol with something that’s can make ill or even very dangerous for your body. Arak, a locally-brewed spirit laced with deadly methanol sometimes, if you don’t know the source always good to avoid.Symptoms from this methanol mix liquor: a headache, blurred vision and nausea. Most of cheap cocktail are use Arak as the base instead of vodka or others well know and licensed spirit.
Don’t expose too much of your upper body out of respect. Don’t point your feet to the altar in the temple either. And don’t take stupid photo pose like climb altar or sitting on altar or even just stone or rock that considering holy for Balinese. You might not will go to jail because of it, but basic for Balinese law is Karma, if you un-respected a respected or holy site a bad Karma will come to you. Balinese also believed in un-seen world and being called ” Niskala ” the un-seen being from un-seen world with their un-seen power and un-seen law can bring a bad luck, sickness, even craziness to deadliness as local believe. And also some social law will apply to you if you posted those stupid photo sitting on altar on your social media. Instead you will haunted by a live time guilty feelings and embarrassing your self don’t start any stupid action or things in considering holy site in Bali.
Don’t self drive or even ride motor bike if you not able or not used in Bali chaotic management. Bali road are narrow, un-predictable ( ceremony may held and all sudden road blocked and need to find short cut, or dogs, pig or cows can cross by in Bali village road) and in some area perhaps internet doesn’t work proper if you plan use your GPS and Goole Map might pointing to wrong direction, asking direction to local Balinese might sometimes not such a good idea as their way to give direction can be confusing, overall west, east, south and north direction are different in every Bali region. Don’t get cranky if people are honking at you. Honking it’s just the way for Balinese to tell their position and warning you if they around, not tell you to speeding or get out of their way. Respect the law, don’t drive in bare naked chest, don’t ride motorbike without helmet and no shirt, well ok some Balinese do that, but thats in their home village. Or perhaps they just finish bathing at nearby beach or public bath or they just a farmer or fisherman came home from work. Balinese will we are proper clothes ,jacket, jumper,short or jeans sometimes shoes and masker if they ride their bike out from their home village or area. So be respect although Bali culture are very open for nudeness but that was an old era of Bali. Not in the city or in very public area, as its considering outback or have no manner.
Don’t haggle for 30 minutes at the markets with no intention of buyingFirstly, you will be exhausted. But more importantly, it’s considered rude. Stick to good haggling etiquette.
Don’t spend all your time in Kuta. Kuta is probably Bali’s most known tourist destination, and for that reason, people think that if they have seen Kuta, they have seen Bali. This is a mistake, because a lot of people hate Kuta. It gets a bad wrap, and I have to admit, it’s not all lies. Bali is not just Kuta, Bali is much more colourful , variety, beautiful and peaceful than just Kuta. But also don’t not see Kuta , it’s good to explore at least once time for first time visitor to enjoy Kuta and all its hustle bustle. And some people love Kuta. Just remember there is so much more to Bali, so try and combine your time here with other areas in Bali.
Don’t leave your drinks unattended. It’s fine to go to a bar but you just need to smart about it. Watch your drinks, order things you know and stay with people you know. Many bar and club are filled up with peoples who try to take advantage from drunk or stupid clubbers in Bali.
Those are our tips on things not to do in Bali! We would love to hear your tips for Bali, just comment below…. LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN!
