Indonesia aims to welcome more than 14 million tourists in 2024. Last year, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno announced that Indonesia is targeting 14.3 million foreign travelers in 2024.
Bali, Indonesia’s crown jewel, expects to receive seven million tourists, two million more than last year. Even as the Pacific paradise gets ready to welcome throngs of visitors, another major priority is to protect its land and culture from the effects of over-tourism.
The Growth of Sustainable Ecotourism in Bali
In 2023, Tripadvisor gave Bali the coveted second place in its Travelers’ Choice Awards, the Best of the Best. Second only to Dubai in popularity, Bali has left behind destinations like London, Cancún, and even Paris.
Despite concerns over growing overcrowding problems, Bali doesn’t plan to stop welcoming visitors anytime soon. Indonesia’s economy relies heavily on tourism, and Bali and Jakarta are its most enticing offerings. So, instead of introducing measures to reduce the number of tourists coming in, Indonesia plans to use sustainable tourism to conserve the nation’s environment and cultural heritage.
While the country set a goal of 14.3 million visitors this year, the data shows that it might easily exceed expectations and usher in over 16.1 million international travelers, at least according to Uno. Indonesia seeks to address the environmental and cultural impact of the growing popularity by tapping into the ever-growing trend of sustainable tourism.
According to a Travel and Tour World report at the recent Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference in Bali, Uno spoke about how various parties need to cooperate for Indonesia to truly adopt sustainable tourism. He highlighted the need to use cultural tourism, ecotourism, and adventure tourism to attract more environmentally conscious travelers to the land.
Some measures and initiatives to promote ecotourism mean developing accommodations committed to minimizing their environmental impact. Some hotels and resorts are already taking measures to be more sustainable and foster responsible tourism.
The Case of Pullman Bali Legian Beach and Others
The Green Globe certifies hotels, resorts, and other businesses based on their sustainable operations. It recently awarded Pullman Bali Legian Beach Resort Green Globe Certification for its unwavering dedication to becoming more sustainable and reducing its environmental impact.
The villa resort is almost fully occupied throughout the year, which could easily lead to waste management issues and other ecological consequences. To offset the damage caused by these stays, the resort tracks ways to effectively reduce food waste, as well as educate and spread awareness among its occupants about local flora and fauna.
The retreat uses a digital food waste management system to monitor food waste generation and disposal from guests and it regularly cleans the local beaches to help keep them pristine.
But Pullman Bali Legian Beach isn’t the only resort taking a holistic approach to sustainability. So far, seven other retreats and hotels have taken on initiatives that have won them the Green Globe Certification. These include Element Bali Ubud, Fairmont Jakarta, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali, Peppers Seminyak, Pullman Jakarta Central Park, Raffles Bali, and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort.
With Uno’s commitment to sustainable tourism, eco-friendly initiatives will become even more common among resorts in the Indonesian hospitality industry. This includes encouraging locals and tourists to use electric vehicles and ride-shares and designing accommodations that depend on green energy. Together, they can help preserve and promote the natural beauty of the nation.
Bali’s New Ecotourism Tax: The How and the Why
In an effort to conserve its environment while welcoming foreign visitors, Bali recently imposed an ecotourism tax on travelers. In July last year, officials declared that starting in 2024, the province would charge 150,000 Indonesian rupiahs or $10 US whenever a traveler enters Bali.
Also known as the tax for sustainable tourism, these charges go toward conserving the local ecology and culture of places, all while offsetting some of the environmental damage inevitably caused by tourism. The fee can also help remind tourists of the impact of their visit and encourage them to travel more responsibly even as they enjoy Bali’s delectable food and local culture.
According to a report by Travel and Tour World, the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, recently shared that the initial phase of the tax initiation was a success. More than 9,000 tourists willingly paid the fee. This has led officials to hope for the continued understanding and support of visitors as the nation strengthens its sustainability efforts.
On February 14th, the tax became mandatory for every international traveler. Visitors need to pay the fee before they depart the nation. There is an online payment system travelers can use to pay the fee even before the visit. In case of difficulty paying online, people can visit designated locations to pay the fee in person.
