Indonesia to address overdevelopment, overcrowding at tourist spots

By Antara, Indonesian News Agency, August 30, 2024

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno is planning to impose a moratorium on the construction of hotels and the conversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes to safeguard quality tourism.

The moratorium will apply to overcrowded tourist destinations, such as Bali's southern region.

"The government is finalizing a policy to address the potential for overdevelopment, which can create unsafe and uncomfortable conditions, particularly in certain Indonesian destinations," Uno said on the sidelines of the 1st International Quality Tourism Conference (IQTC) in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday.

He added that the policy will also target non-sustainable tourism accommodations.

While the minister did not disclose specific details about the policy, he mentioned that it will be finalized and discussed in a closed meeting with President Joko Widodo soon.

"Together with the President, we will determine concrete steps to ensure that Indonesian tourism is of high quality and can generate business opportunities and jobs," Uno said.

The policy will be implemented in specific tourist destinations experiencing overcrowding and decreased visitor satisfaction.

Uno plans to thoroughly analyze Bali's southern region, specifically Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan, to identify areas that need attention.

He emphasized that the policy will not interfere with the government's target of increasing foreign tourist arrivals to 14 million in 2024.

The minister also indicated that the policy will be evaluated every three to six months to assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.

Data from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) shows that the number of classified hotels and lodgings in Indonesia has reached 29,005 units with 747,066 rooms.

Additionally, there are over 61,000 Airbnb listings in Indonesia, with approximately 34,000 located in Bali.

https://en.antaranews.com/news/324263/indonesia-to-address-overdevelopment-overcrowding-at-tourist-spots