Bali, the tourism hub of Indonesia has enforced a step towards responsible tourism and sustainability practices. The island authorities have decided to ban tourism-related actions in the sensitive parts. As a result, tourists will now be banned from the mountains and volcanoes.
The blanket ban will affect all of the 22 mountains of the province. And these serve as the prime tourist attractions for a large number of foreign tourists.
Tourism is a key source of income for the country. But the behavior and actions of the tourists often put the local people in distrust. Some disturbing incidents were reported wherein foreign tourists reportedly disrespected the local traditions. Some were regarding disrespect of people, and some were about disrespecting Bali’s holy mountains. Incidents included reckless behavior, accidents and even public nudity in the region.
One of the widely shared incidents was the image of a Russian tourist. He was found posing inappropriately on a local mountain. Named Mount Agung, locals consider it the sacred abode of the Gods. And the incident triggered anger among the local population.
The governor of Bali, Wayan Koster said that this ban will affect both local and foreign tourists. Thus, the impacts are intended to be permanent, accompanied by a set of rules and regulations.
Explaining the details, the governor mentioned that access to the mountains has been restricted to the residents. Exceptions including religious celebrations will allow the visit of people. In case of any natural disasters, people may be allowed to visit. Outside of any exceptional circumstances, the ban strictly prohibits the movement of tourists in protected areas. It also bans mountain-related activities or enjoying the splendor of nature.
Also, locals call Bali the Islands of the Gods. It’s vibrant nature and wide range of landscapes offer a variety of activities to enjoy.
