Credit: Surfermag.com
In order to accommodate to the huge number of tourists entering the island each year, land is being cleared at a very rapid rate for the building of hotels, villas and malls. Also, very little attention is paid to the waste problem that follows mass tourism. Natural resources are also being consumed faster than they can be replenished.
Needless to say, mass tourism is responsible for many problems that have begun to plague the island, and if nothing is done about it, Bali may soon lose its title as the “dream holiday destination” in Asia.
Based on stone age predispositions, humans generally have a ‘denial’ problem and the tendency to focus on short term benefits of actions. This is clearly showcased in this case study as environmental problems are being underestimated due to the immediate monetary benefits that tourism brings in.
Environmental problems surface because of humans’ need to continuously make things bigger and better. Bali is continuously being ‘improved on’ to attract more tourists despite having already overshot its carrying capacity.