A hotel ban in Bali? Not a second too soon

BALI is broken. These days, the jewel in Indonesia’s crown of sun-kissed islands is less paradise, more parking lot. Tourists are bringing in much-desired revenue, but there’s just too many of them. The government’s proposal to temporarily curb new building construction of hotels and villas can’t come quickly enough.

The “Island of the Gods” needs urgent attention. It’s the archipelago’s golden goose, accounting for a significant chunk of international arrivals, bringing in visitors from all over the world. Authorities need to come up with a solution to manage the rampant overdevelopment that’s become Bali’s hallmark, keep the number of visitors under control and protect the local environment and culture.

Indonesia is home to 18,000 islands, but only 6,000 are inhabited. Of these, Bali has historically enjoyed pole position in the rankings of the most popular holiday spots. It sits to the east of the country’s most populous island of Java, separated by the narrow Bali Strait. The majority-Hindu population is also a draw, offering a starkly different culture and customs; Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim nation.