JAKARTA – There is an odd story in the Jakarta Post this week.
The newspaper quotes so-called “experts†who “continue to claim that Bali’s tourism industry is on the declineâ€.
Further, it is claimed that the island may become marginalised when the ASEAN charter takes effect in 2015 and makes travel to other regional tourist attractions more affordable for Indonesians.
The “expert†– Daradjatun Kuntjoro Jakti, former coordinating minister for the economy – told the Jakarta Post that Bali’s tourism industry had reached a saturation point that could endanger public livelihood if the administration did not act.
His data shows that Bali’s income from foreign tourist has continually dropped to US$4.44 billion in 2006 from US$5.74 billion in 2000, despite the rapid development of tourism-related infrastructure projects within the six-year period.
He further cited a continual reduction in foreign tourists’ length of stay, from 12.26 days per visit in 2000 to 9.05 days per visit in 2005.
Foreign tourist expenditure per visit also reveals a downturn to US$904 in 2005 from US$1,135.18 in 2000.
“In other words, looking at the Bali tourism industry is like a person running really fast yet doesn’t get anywhere, which looks like he’s having a really bad dream,” Jakti said.
He cited as reasons for the downturn, a deteriorating environment, deceitful taxi drivers and currency exchangers, an increasing prominence of Western-style buildings and diminishing Balinese culture in Bali.
He said Bali’s tourism industry would not survive if nothing was done to address the problems given increasing competition from other ASEAN countries.
“Especially considering that ASEAN will sign the ASEAN charter in 2015, effectively making travel between ASEAN countries cheaper,” he said.
“At this rate, Bali will become a tourism destination of yesterday and not of tomorrow. It may not even last 10 years.”
