Editorial: Who Owns Bali?

NusaBali.com recently ran an opinion editorial piece posing the question: “Who Owns Bali.”

What follows is a free translation of that article.

As reported by Tempo.Com, Bali Police report that in 2024, 133 foreign nationals visiting the Island were involved in general criminal cases. This is an increase of 49 percent compared to 2023, when 89 foreign nationals were reported as involved in crime. These figures do not include narcotics cases and instances of special crimes.

As a result, it is not surprising if comments suggest Bali is not the calm and comfortable place it once was. In Bali, people are now warned to be vigilant due to increasing crime rates.

Bali is changing. Before recent changes in Bali tourism, the locals in Bali tended to view foreigners positively, a group comprised of individuals who were great, rich, intelligent, friendly, and worthy of respect. For many, forming friendships with foreigners was a source of pride, enhancing a local’s self-confidence.

Now, many foreign visitors appear to be often poor, sometimes emotionally stressed, disruptors of the peace, and prone to harassing the local population. Many foreign visitors have become a source of chaos and recklessness, often looking down disdainfully on local residents. Many Balinese now openly wonder what foreign visitors and residents in Bali are looking for. Are they in search of just a happy picnic and a carefree holiday? Or are they searching for trading opportunities, opportunities to cheat, and chances to merely hang around while enjoying a comfortable lifestyle of sunset cocktails, cheap massages, and all-night beach parties?

In some tourist villages in Bali, such as Canggu or Ubud, foreigners have now become a part of the local landscape, oftentimes more prominent than locals in the local scheme of things. In an increasing number of once remote corners of Bali, the foreigners have a higher provide than the native Balinese.

Understandably, some now wonder: who owns Bali?

**An Age-Old Battle for the Island of Bali**

Does Bali still belong to the Balinese? Tourism has produced immense wealth while creating new problems and questions surrounding the legal ownership of Balinese land. Outsiders now control more and more land in Bali while new hotels continue to be built where rice fields once flourished. Roads are widened for the convenience of newcomers now living in Bali. The current main airport has been upgraded, and a new airport is being considered – all to attract more newcomers. Bali’s new elevated ocean toll road over Benoa Bay was constructed to accommodate the booming number of newcomers.

The Balinese are increasingly aware that their power over their homeland is declining. Every day, more people from outside Bali seek oligarchical control over the Island. Sadly, locals are often too slow to comprehend how they are losing control of the Island.

Many experts have commented that the Balinese do not fully enjoy Bali’s economic growth. Although there has never been a comprehensive study on the distribution of the tourism “cake,” the signs suggest that the Balinese economy is now largely controlled by non-Balinese interests.

Why are the Balinese so late in realizing they are no longer masters of their ancient land? Many suggest the answer is that the Balinese are too focused on customs and religion, causing them to forget worldly problems. Because the problems of the tourism industry and economic growth are global in nature, it’s argued that the spiritually-minded Balinese are not alert enough to moderate the negative impacts of tourism.

In local communities, wherever Balinese figures gather in seminars, coffee shops, and banjar halls, discussions often arise about how Bali is no longer fully controlled by the Balinese. They believe the Balinese no longer have the power to direct where their daily lives are headed going forward. When a new challenge suddenly arises, the Balinese are overwhelmed and unable to resolve the situation.

These days, when investors control a sacred area, they quickly cover the land with new villas, while the Balinese become confused about what has happened. Should the Balinese have a role in rejecting or approving new projects?

If they cannot reject something they consider damaging Bali, what remains their proper role as Balinese people? And, if they no longer play a role, can they rightly be called Bali’s owners? If they do not own Bali, then who owns Bali?

Experts have commented that the Balinese do not enjoy the benefits of Bali’s sustained economic growth. And, while there has never been a comprehensive study on the distribution of the tourism cake, the signs are clear that outsiders are controlling the Balinese economy – a fact evident from several perspectives.

Why is it that the Balinese are so late in realizing that they are no longer masters of their own lands? Many suspect they know the answer. Some speculate that the Balinese have become too focused on customs and religion and fail to consider worldly problems fully. Accordingly, because the tourism industry and economic growth are worldly problems, the locally focused Balinese can easily remain unaware of the negative impacts of tourism.

A common theme often heard whenever Balinese gather in Banjar meetings, seminars, and coffee shops is how the Balinese no longer fully control the Island, which should be their birthright. The Balinese have little say in determining the Island’s future course. When problems appear, there is little they can do or say about possible solutions. What were once sacred lands under the control of banjars is now land covered with villas and controlled by investors. Confused, the Balinese sometimes do not know what to do. They remain powerless in rejecting or approving building and development projects.

If the Balinese cannot reject a project that they consider damaging to Bali, what is the role of the Balinese people? If they play no role, can they still be called the owners of Bali? If they do not own Bali, then who owns Bali?

“. . . the question remains: who is the ultimate owner of the Island of Bali? Will the Balinese have a voice in the continuing call to save the Island and its timeless culture?

But, in the end, perhaps Bali never truly belonged to the Balinese. During the monarchial rulers’ days, Bali was part of the Majapahit Kingdom. Later, In the colonial era, Bali was “owned” by the Dutch. For a brief period of three years, the Japanese called the shots in Bali. Today, in the era of globalization, Bali is increasingly coming under the control of oligarchs and capitalists.

Some argue that it is nearly impossible to fight capitalism. Very greedy investors and their capital are agile and move quickly, avoiding sanctions and penalties and moving on to their next target.

In the meantime, the question remains: who is the ultimate owner of the Island of Bali? Will the Balinese have a voice in the continuing call to save the Island and its timeless culture?

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