Australian tourists urged to seek alternative Indonesian holiday destinations

klaatu

AS soon as they leave Bali and see all the mosques they'll probably turn back

Markit

Did you mean "Devil's Advocaat" or advocate? If the former, hat off.

Joe Writeson

Markit wroteDid you mean "Devil's Advocaat" or advocate? If the former, hat off.

...the answer is in the full sentence... well spotted

balinews

Australians worried their beloved Bali is being overrun with tourists are being encouraged to seek alternative Indonesian holiday destinations. A travel fair in Bali will this week encourage visitors to see the island as a gateway to adventures beyond the popular beaches of Kuta and Seminyak. But one expert says authorities need to go further and designate Bali as a transit zone from which tourists would be expected to move on. Nyoman Sukma Arida, of Udayana University, has been warning for 10 years that Bali tourism is approaching saturation, pointing to signs of environmental stress all over the island. Advertisement A moratorium on new hotel developments was ineffective, he says, and the government should urgently discuss how to save Bali from its own success. "I've written that Bali should be used as a hub, as the distributor of tourists all over Indonesia," Professor Nyoman said. "When I went to Perth recently, I saw that people there still see Bali as their only option. "It's just that their knowledge of other places in Indonesia is very limited." I Ketut Ardana of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies disagrees the sector is growing unsustainably. "I don't agree with using Bali only as a hub, but I agree that other tourist destinations in Indonesia should be selling in Bali," he said. Read more: Aussies asked to stop Bali overcrowding

Joe Writeson

Catch 22, there are some stunning and vastly different places to visit throughout Indonesia, both visually and spiritually... However, if they are 'unspoilt' the tourists complain of 'lack of facilities' if they are developed, then the they complain the place has 'lost its charm' and become 'commercialised' ... see the endless posts regarding this in Trip Advisor. I have traveled the length and breadth of the archipelago by every means of transport available, commercial and otherwise, and I could probably list ten places that fall into the middle of the parameters, well served but as yet unspoilt ... but again the downside, some of them take three days to get to ... and a not very comfortable three days at that! Hardly 'tourist friendly'... ... a quick troll through Michael Palin's Indo travels on YouTube give some typical examples...the sinking Phinisi sailing between the Riau Islands being just one. Full Circle with Michael Palin 5/5 FINAL - YouTube So basically I would say there are places well worth visiting, but NOT for the casual, or first time tourist to Indonesia, jumping in a hired car and zooming around the country unfettered may sound wild and free, but in reality it is only for the very, very, very experienced! These are MY opinions, often viewed as 'jaded' and 'pessimistic' whereas I prefer the terms 'realistic' and 'telling it like it is' ... ...the Devil's Advocaat is not always the ambrosia one seeks...

Kiwi Gaz

Well said Joe, very well put, couldn't agree more. This is my first post on this forum which I have found to be both entertaining and informative.

Markit

Welcome Kiwi - who are you? Care to say a little about yourself?

Joe Writeson

Welcome Kiwi Gaz ... this forum needs more online Hakas ... for cracking expensive software and stuff?

Markit

Kiwi have no fear to use the Search facility - most of the stuff there is surprisingly still up-to-date. If you can't find what you need then feel free to ask. Most of us here love to act the know-it-all but remember to take given advise with the proverbial pinch or 2 of salt (except mine of course - that can be ignored completely). Retirement to Bali, I always think, is only for those that really still want something to do and enjoy moments of blind panic interspersed with hours of "what the fuck was I think of" introspection. If you want to vegetate and grow your nose and ear hairs to braiding lengths then stay where you are.

Kiwi Gaz

[b]Nail On The Head[/b]

Markit wroteRetirement to Bali, I always think, is only for those that really still want something to do and enjoy moments of blind panic interspersed with hours of "what the fuck was I think of" introspection.

Markit - bingo - you've hit the proverbial bang on the head - for me this will be an opportunity to 'regenerate' and start a new phase of life. I can't wait, truth be told and I'm sure a few ice cold Bintangs will help during those inevitable "just WTF was I thinking moments" - thanx for the welcome (Joe too) and All Blacks by at least twenty on Saturday . . . .

Kiwi Gaz

[b]Background Info Kiwi Gaz[/b] Markit - born in New Zealand, Kiwi more or less by accident as I have spent the most part of my life overseas in Europe and Australia. Currently residing in Darwin which has been home for the last twenty years - time does fly. As retirement slowly but surely edges closer, I'm seriously looking at making Bali my home and as such have started researching this through books and since February this year, this forum, which as I mentioned have found to be very informative but also at times entertaining. Your posts along with those from Khun Peter have resonated with me on many an occasion and I hope you'll both continue to be a font of information as I slowly but surely work out exactly what and where on that beautiful island I will choose to live and to hopefully mitigate the bureaucratic challenges that lie in wait . . . . .