Anti-tourism protesters take over popular British hotspot dubbed 'Island of the Gods'

Anti-tourism protesters have taken over the popular British hotspot of Bali, calling on authorities to halt further tourism development across the Indonesian island.

Three environmental organisations staged the demonstration in Central Denpasar earlier this month.

Kekal Bali, Frontier Bali, and Walhi Bali gathered to voice their concerns about mounting pressures on natural resources, residential areas, freshwater supplies and democratic participation.

The groups released a collective declaration titled "The Great Plague: Restore Bali & Indonesia."

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It argued that the island has reached a critical juncture where it must choose between continued economic expansion and safeguarding its environment.

According to the coalition, the rapid expansion of tourism has outpaced the island's capacity to manage its environmental impact effectively.

They contend that excessive visitor numbers have accelerated the loss of farmland, generated greater quantities of waste and intensified pressure on water resources.

The organisations presented figures suggesting approximately 1,125 hectares of agricultural land are converted annually across Bali.

Their statement also cited studies indicating that the majority of hotels rely on groundwater extraction for their operations, with star-rated establishments using at least 800 litres per room daily.

I Wayan Sathya Tirtayasa, Secretary General of Frontier Bali, explained that the phrase "The Great Plague" - or "Grubug Agung" in the local language - was deliberately chosen to convey a crisis that extends beyond environmental matters into social and democratic territory.

During the protest, Mr Tirtayasa said: "We view that the problems occurring in Bali are not isolated.

"The water crisis, land conversion, environmental pressure and the shrinking opportunity to voice criticism are interrelated issues.

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He added: "Therefore, bold steps are needed to change the direction of public policy."

The coalition maintains that these interconnected challenges demand a fundamental shift in how authorities approach development decisions.

Beyond environmental matters, the coalition raised alarm about the state of democratic freedoms on the island, demanding genuine safeguards for human rights defenders and environmental campaigners who challenge government policies.

The groups also warned that the weakening rupiah and rising costs of non-subsidised fuel threaten to push up living expenses, potentially driving basic goods prices higher for residents already struggling financially.

Bali is widely considered one of the most heavily visited island destinations in the world.

It welcomes over 16.4 million domestic and international tourists annually.

Tourism completely dominates the local landscape, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of Bali's entire economy.

This year, Tripadvisor officially named Bali the number one travel destination in the world, outranking iconic global hubs like London and Paris.

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