Bali in crisis, governor warns
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has warned the island is facing an overpopulation crisis. 


Based on the recent national census, Bali is currently home to 3.9 million people.
But Pastika, quoted by the Jakarta Globe said that given the province’s existing resources and infrastructure, the island should only be inhabited by 1.5 million people. 

The local population is being swelled by record numbers of visitors, which is putting extra strain on the environment.
This overpopulation has led to a strain on resources, the governor said, leaving many parts of Bali facing increasingly worse traffic jams, rising poverty levels and increased crime rates. 


Official data shows that there are 134,000 poor families living in Bali, but Pastika said the provincial government could only afford to provide direct aid to a maximum of 10,000 families. 


Recently, the province has also struggled with a spate of robberies targeting foreigners.
“Bali is just like sugar,†Pastika said, likening people to ants. “As long as the sugar still exists, people will come and stay here.†


The growing population is attributed to a combination of high migration and rising birth rates. 


Ian Jarrett
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.
































Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports