Bali is one of the super-saturated tourist markets of Southeast Asia. Millions of tourists’ book flights to Bali in order to enjoy the bohemian way of life in those idyllic islands. With the growing number of tourists and travelers and the phenomenal growth of tourism, it is essential to encourage sustainable tourism in Bali. However, it is seen that the ecotourism in Bali is still to achieve its full potential.
Apart from looking for cheap online Scoot promotion and enjoy of cheaper travel to this rich and cultured paradise, it is equally important to raise awareness on ecotourism. A more educated traveler to the flooded tourist market can make the locals as well as the tourists aware of ecotourism.
Attempts are being made to motivate the concept of sustainable tourism. However, the concept of ecotourism or eco-tours is a lot deeper than merely thrusting laminated flyers with the words written ort advertising ecotourism. The words eco tours are often misused and misunderstood. It is essential to keep the tourism trade in check and protect Bali’s ecosystems. There are organizations like Village Ecotourism Network and Jaringan Ekowisata Desa with a mission to protect Bali’s ecosystems. Their aim is to ensure that minimize the environmental impact of tourism in Bali and raise environmental awareness. They encourage support for conservation projects and offer support by funding them.
Efforts of Ecotourism
As a traveler, one should be aware of the approved eco-tourist destinations in Bali. There are fours regions listed by Village Ecotourism Network that offer different and unique appeal for tourists.
- Tenganan Pegringsinga on the east coast – The ancient village of Tenganan Pegringsinga is under collapse due to huge volumes of tourist influx.
- Kiadan Pelaga on northern Ubud- The coffee-growing region of Kiadan Pelaga boasts of local coffee plantations and sells coffee directly to tourists.
- Nusa Ceningan- Also known as Ceningan Island, Nusa Ceningan is famous for its seaweed farms along the eastern coast of Bali.
- The Dukuh Sibetan in the north of Bali- Dukuh Sibetan near Lake Batur is known for its sustainable snake fruit farms.
All the above regions are magnets for the tourists, and although they bring in the precious tourist dollars, they also need sustainable tourism.
When millions of tourists stay in those grand hotels, they tend to pollute the immediate seas and beaches. The government is trying to control the growing wave of tourists and keep them within government-sponsored tourist enclave. However, recent efforts have not been promising as it led to an imbalance in tourist revenues and uneven demand for water and waste disposal. There was a negative impact on ecology and coastal erosion. There are self-policing village councils that have kept an eye on the structure of Bali and the effects of tourism on the social strata. They work in alignment with the hotel, villa, or other business.
As a tourist, one must realize that just because VEN does not recognize a tour, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t eco-friendly. It is your responsibility as a tourist to understand all about the tour that you are interested in and judge its sustainability. how to move around Bali too is of utmost importance. It makes no sense driving around in a gas-guzzling SUV with a flyer of ecotourism. You can make efforts to tour Bali which is easy to navigate. You can walk when you can or rent out scooters to get around Bali. Look for Zero-impact tours that protect the local environment and support sustainable development. Scuba divers should get an education on how to protect the local coral reefs.
Tourists have been irresponsible in the past, but gradually, locals and travelers are waking up to the importance of preserving the natural charms of the original Bali. There is a fast-growing development in ecotourism resorts and accommodations that are powered by solar or wind energy. There is an increasing number of socially responsible educational resorts that are working toward ecotourism in Bali.