The frightening lessons from the tourism boom on the paradise island of Bali.

The devastating flash floods that hit Bali last week have killed at least 18 people and displaced 149, raising questions about the ecological future of this popular tourist island.

Tourists wade through floodwaters in Badung, Bali on September 10 - Photo: REUTERS

According to the South China Morning Post on September 17, environmental experts warn that the combination of rampant tourism development, deforestation, and poor urban management is pushing Bali to an ecological "break point," where extreme weather events could become even more catastrophic in the coming decades.

Massive development erodes the natural barrier.

According to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, rainfall exceeding 200mm per day on September 9th and 10th caused widespread flash floods, particularly in Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Buleleng, and Karangasem in Bali.

Spokesman Abdul Muhari said that more than 200 tons of garbage washed ashore had blocked rivers, causing water levels to rise rapidly and flood residential areas on the island. He warned that Bali could face major floods "within the next 50 or 100 years" if the current trend does not change.

Deforestation and the conversion of agricultural land for housing, hotels, and shopping malls have reduced the natural water infiltration capacity of the soil in Bali. Between 2012 and 2019 alone, Bali lost 553 hectares of forest and nearly 650 hectares of agricultural land – an alarming figure for such a small island.

Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq also warned that Bali's landscape is being "disrupted" by villas and hotels built on hills and in the middle of rice paddies. He urged the Bali authorities to stop granting permits for new projects that threaten the environment.

In response, Governor Wayan Koster announced he would halt the conversion of agricultural land, particularly rice paddies, to commercial purposes and would only "selectively" issue permits for the construction of individual homes on agricultural land.

Ruin after the floods in Denpasar city on the island on September 12 - Photo: AFP

On the brink of ecological crisis

Experts believe the root cause of this situation lies in the tourism boom. In 2024, Bali welcomed 6.3 million international visitors, far exceeding its local population of 4.3 million, contributing 44% of Indonesia's total tourism revenue of $16.7 billion.

The wave of investment in resort villas, fueled by policies such as the "digital nomad" visa, has led to a rapid shrinking of agricultural land and forests.

I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra, a planning expert at Warmadewa University, said that many investors and tourists prefer villas scattered on cliffs or amidst rice paddies, rather than traditional hotels.

He warned that the rapid growth of tourism has led many local landowners to view their land as a "tool for accumulating capital," rather than serving the community as it once did.

Furthermore, many construction projects also fail to comply with guidelines that require building on high, infertile land and avoiding areas near rivers or streams.

Made Krisna Dinata, director of the Walhi environmental organization in Bali, emphasized that each converted rice paddy means the loss of a part of the subak irrigation system – a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"One hectare of agricultural land with a depth of 7cm can hold up to 3,000 tons of water. When these areas are covered with concrete, Bali will be more vulnerable to natural disasters," he said, warning that the island is on the "brink of an ecological crisis" and vulnerable to climate change impacts such as flooding.

He urged the Bali authorities to reassess all infrastructure projects, tighten land use planning, and restore the ecosystem to minimize the risk of flooding.

HA DAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bai-hoc-dang-so-tu-bung-no-du-lich-o-dao-thien-duong-bali-20250917170211854.htm