Island paradise sucked dry by Tourists

Introduction

The article refers to the current situation in Bali. As the visitor numbers rise again to new heights after the two bombings, the increasing demand for water is lowering the groundwater level. 400 of 260 rivers are dry, already. The forest which, according to law, should cover at least 30% of the island, shrank already to 22%. Only 59 % is in good condition.  5000 more villas are expected to be building within the next two years on the peninsula Bukit only, so the demand for water will increase continuously.

The newly-elected Governor of Bali describes the negative environmental impacts as a ticking time bomb. He proposes radical solutions. The exploitation of the groundwater should be regulated (especially for big investors), the forest should be rebuilt.

Original article: “Island paradise sucked dry by Tourists” published by The Sydney Morning Herald on 04.10.2008

Essay by Veit Heilbronner
Master in Tourism Destination Management student 2008/2009

The article provides an insight in the situation of a destination in which an unplanned development of mass tourism is heading towards an environmental disaster.The water consumption of one hotel room is 30 times the water consumption of an individual. Big companies like Coca-Cola exploit groundwater for their production.
The positive effects of tourism on Balinese economy are undeniable.
If the population would equally profit of the development taking place, the damage of the environment could be seen as price for economical growth (even than measures should be undertaken to sustain the business in long terms). However, according to the dependency theory (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/depend.htm), the largest share of the profit accumulated remains in the hands large national and international investors. As mentioned in the article, the population and the small enterprises run by locals are affected by the development as well as by the exploitation of the environment.
Besides that, the Balinese culture is negatively influenced by the growing tourism business.
Bali should find ways to guarantee fair access to basic public goods like water for the inhabitants. The locals should be given the possibility to participate the decision process of bigger tourism developments in their area. Possibilities to engage the private sector in reducing or recycling e.g. by obliging them to clear their waste water should be taken into account. The implementation of an environmental tax would be another possible way. The money could for example be used to refoster the forest.
The ecosystem could be seriously and unrepairably damaged. At a certain point the extent of the pollution will influence the competiveness of the destination negatively and the image of the “paradise” will suffer. International tour operators will cut down their investments as soon as the the quality of their products is endangered. Rafting in an empty river is no fun, diving without fish, either.
The insufficient supply with basic resources will additionally affect the hospitality of the Balinese people.  A change of tourism policy in Bali would certainly require some investments in first place and recoil investors, because of higher costs, but in the long term it would pay off. An objective investigation of the environmental state of the island should take place. Advices of the expertise should be considered.