The Year Bali Tourism Stopped | Foreign Correspondent

CA ABC is an Australian public broadcast service. Wikipedia BALI The Year Bali Tourism Stopped | Foreign Correspondent 622,268 views •Premiered Mar 9, 2021 6.3K 287 Share Save ABC News In-depth 528K subscribers Bali’s natural beauty and rich culture have made it a tourist magnet but since COVID19, the island is struggling to stay afloat. Locals are questioning their dependence on tourism and the over-development it has unleashed. Marcello and the lifeguards of Kuta Beach rise bright and early for their morning meeting and surf sprints. But they know it’s going to be a quiet day. While the iconic beach normally attracts 50 000 visitors a day from around the world, today the head lifeguard expects only 50 people. “Nobody makes a life on the beach", says Marcello. “People who sell massage, or merchandise on the beach…I heard they all go back home to their village. It’s a very sad situation." 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 per cent tourism. Now 80 or 90 percent they are doing seaweed farms”, says Wayan who’s had to cop a 75% 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 businesswoman. “We realized that we cannot just depend on one industry.” In this visually stunning story, reporter and cameraman Matt Davis travels around Bali and discovers an island in the midst of some serious soul searching. He meets locals 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 Robi Gede, “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.” About Foreign Correspondent: Foreign Correspondent is the prime-time international public affairs program on Australia's national broadcaster, ABC-TV. We produce half-hour duration in-depth reports for broadcast across the ABC's television channels and digital platforms. Since 1992, our teams have journeyed to more than 170 countries to report on war, natural calamity and social and political upheaval – through the eyes of the people at the heart of it all. Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC’s Online Terms of Use http://www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm​ (Section 3). This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel 1,547 Comments Auggie Giuseppe Add a public comment... Aparna M Aparna M 20 hours ago Can’t depend on tourism entirely. Bali needs back up plan. 227 Rod Ritchie Rod Ritchie 1 day ago Rubbish is a problem everywhere, but a huge problem in Indonesia. 283 James Alias James Alias 1 day ago When tourism starts back up they need to charge a fee on all tourist to pay for trash collection and proper disposal. 269 Balcony Gardening Balcony Gardening 17 hours ago The old saying: Call it paradise and then you can kiss it goodbye. 11 Sonder Expeditions Sonder Expeditions 10 hours ago Not just because of tourism. Even in small town with 0 tourists like Sukabumi there is tonsssss of trash all along the rice fields. 34 King of Cups King of Cups 12 hours ago Countries around this world send billions of their taxpayer money to Indonesia. Much of the money ends up in Swiss bank accounts due to government corruption. The funds should be used in food and healthcare for their people right now but corruption ruins compassion. 29 Dirman Bw Dirman Bw 1 day ago They should diversify the economy, not only dependent on tourism 55 Jenny Misteqq Jenny Misteqq 18 hours ago They didn’t touch on the water issue, but I saw a couple of projects designed to trap rain water so it soaks into the ground rather than rapidly run from the higher altitudes to the lower ones. This helps elevate the water table making well-water more accessible and for further distances. 8 Oli Webster Oli Webster 1 day ago This pandemic affected the whole world, visited Bali in may 2019 with my husband we enjoyed our holiday love the food and very friendly people all the best 28 C R C R 1 day ago The people of Bali are very kind and beautiful. 36 The Beany Mac The Beany Mac 3 days ago Bali could change the world by getting rid of plastic, one of the world's greatest environmental problems. 79 Fi Y Fi Y 1 day ago The humble of most Indonesians. If they survived harsh colonialism they will survive covid. Bless those humble souls. 50 Carpe Diem Carpe Diem 3 days ago Went I went to Bali I couldn’t believe the disrespect tourist show there. They think that just because they are tourist they can get away with everything. It was sad to witness that with my family. 209 Wira Channel Wira Channel 1 day ago The pandemic help to restore the natural life of Balinese people to get back to the nature and their religion life out of hustle and bustle of tourism. A good teaching by nature. 10