Natural beauty and natural have made it a tourist magnet Locals are interrogating their dependence on ecotourism and the over-development it has unleashed.
The lifeguards of Kuta Beach bright and early for their morning meeting and surfers. But they it's going to be a quiet day. Today the head lifeguard regards only 50 people while the iconic beach normally brings 50,000 visitors a day from the world.""
It's a common story across the island, even in its remotest corners. Off Bali's east coast on the small island of Ceningan, Wayan lost his job at a hotel, and had to return to farming seaweed with his family. It's the same story across Ceningan.
"Before we had 100 percent tourism. Now 80 or 90 percent they are doing seaweed farms," says Wayan who's had to cop a 75 percent pay cut. "We had no choice but to return to nature."
But some Balinese see the crisis as an opportunity. "This is a wake-up call for all of us," says Christia, a young business woman. "We realised that we cannot just depend on one industry."
In this story we travelled around Bali and discovers an island in the midst of some serious soul searching.
We meet local people who are questioning the unhinged development that's accompanied the tourist boom and who want to chart a different course for the future.
"Bali tourism industry is based on two things, nature and culture," says rock star Gede Robi, "and we cannot sacrifice them".
Politicians and businesspeople want to fix the congestion, pollution and rubbish problems and encourage a different type of tourism. One that's sustainable and benefits locals more.
"I think it's a good time for reflection this year," says Christia, "Go back to loving our island and make sure that people don't abuse our island as well."
"We hope that when the tourists come back, they are coming with a good energy, they are not littering, with more respect for the local rules," says Marcello. "Come with a good vibe.
Abdulhakeem fridaus
MATRIC NO:COMAS/MAC/17/002
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