Indonesia: Bali Approves Hotel Construction Moratorium
The Facts
Indonesia's government has approved a moratorium on building hotels, villas, and nightclubs on the island of Bali. Government officials said the reasons for the policy include protecting the environment and Indigenous culture.
According to Acting Governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, the moratorium, which is to occur in the Sarbagita region, is set for one to two years, but potentially up to 10 years. He added that the main goal is to slow commercial development on rice fields.
The Spin
Narrative A
Besides the environmental issues, from water allocation to pollution and littering, tourism has led to cultural decay, largely thanks to tourists disrespecting local populations and their religious sites. If tourism was cut back, Bali could save its cultural identity while also propping up its economy through marine and agricultural industries. This is not a zero-sum game.
Narrative B
Balinese culture has sustained and even integrated itself with foreign visitors for almost a century. As children continue to learn traditional worship, dress, and art, they also monetize their culture by performing for and selling merchandise to tourists. As long as local populations are able to maintain their traditional lifestyle on their own terms, tourism shouldn't be a problem.
