Rural tourism or Mass rural tourism!! A case on Bali
Author: Abygail Bradley
2 Commentries
An exploration into how Rural Tourism has been affected by Mass tourism in Bali
Abstract: This paper looks in-depth into the difference between rural tourism and mass tourism, while looking into the effects that these forms of tourism have had on a tourist destination.
Keywords: Rural tourism, Mass tourism, Economy, environment
Rural tourism is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas. This form of tourism gives on the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate natural areas and nature, which has low visitor impacts and can provide future involvement to local populations Lane (1994) explains in depth rural tourism “it is not only farm-based tourism but also comprises special interest nature holiday and ecotourism, walking, climbing and riding holidays, adventure, sport and health tourism, hunting and angling, educational tourism, art and heritage tourism, and in some areas, ethnic tourism“. Rural tourism showcases the rural life to tourists who visit such areas, these form of showcases can include art, culture and heritage in rural locations
This can be a different story when rural tourism can be changed and developed into Mass tourism. Coccossis stated “the expansion of tourism has had a profound effect on many destination areasâ€. Mass tourism is a form of tourism that involves tens of thousands of people going to the same resort, mostly at the time of year. These sorts of holidays can be sold either as package deals or tailor made holidays to get you the cheapest deal. Coccossis argues “In some areas it has revitalizes local economies whilst in others it has destroyed them, traditions, cultures and social relationsâ€. There are many different types of mass tourism these include, skiing, sunbathing on beach holidays, Visiting theme parks and Taking a cruise. Mass tourism in some cases can cause unsustainable problems within destinations due to the vast amounts of tourists travelling to that one destination.
Bali is based in the Pacific Ocean, Mountains and hills are decorated and surrounded with green forest and agricultural areas which functioned as natural water sources for all parts of Bali. This island has a tropical climate change which is why it is so appealing to tourists. Bali is a destination that attracts a variety of different tourists throughout the year for many different reasons, some choose to seek the traveller life style Bali has to offer, where others choose the beach holiday life style as Bali is known mainly for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. SKWIRK (2014) explains “Tourism in Bali is a large industry and provides an income for many families and villages across the island. Bali is one Indonesian island that lacks natural resources, so tourism is vital to the island's economyâ€. Tourism within Bali has had an extensive history and dating as far back as 1597 however in recent years has shown a vast change in the number of tourists entering the country. SKWIRK (2014) explains “Mass tourism to the area has affected water resources, increased pollution, contributed to local flooding and has put pressure on the island's roads and transport. The water quality of coastal areas has deteriorated which has contributed to the destruction of coral reefsâ€. All have been vastly over occupied and destroyed over the years due to the amount of tourists vising this destination. SKWIRK (2014) believes “Tourism has many effects on a location, both good and bad, and it is important that tourists take responsibility for their actions, and are respectful of cultures and landsâ€.
Bali began development in 1969 which saw the government build a new airport for tourist to travel too. SKWIRK (2014) mentions that “During the 1970s and 1980s tourism to the area grew rapidly which caused a great wave of change to the island. Employment increased and the country was becoming more financially stable. The environment, however, felt the negative impacts.†Results show that in 1969 over 30,000 tourists visited this destination, but in 1993 there were over four million visitors entering Bali. The original development plan was to protect the local cultural integrity of Bali, but what the government didn’t expect was the attraction of the younger working travellers who wanted cheap accommodation, which then meant that Bali itself had to cater for two forms of tourists. The young traveller tourists and the richer travellers who then wanted to stay in the best form of accommodation. SKWIRK (2014) explains “In 1991 the government stopped hotel construction in Bali because of the pressure on the area's natural resources. The government realised that poor planning, combined with the rapid growth in tourism could potentially ruin everything that was making the island so appealing to tourists in the first place. SKWIRK (2014) explains “Tourism in Bali has experienced rapid growth over the last 25 years and is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. People from around the world are attracted by its intricate rice paddies, beaches, temples and fascinating cultureâ€.
It is clear to see that tourism has played a major role and essential source of earning. It can be evidently seen that almost all of economic activities in Bali were dependant on the tourism sector. This being said Bali may be looking to find a more sustainable future but there are still main issues facing the mass tourism effects on the local economy, and while trying to place more rural resort in Bali these could then turn into mass tourism resorts.
Reference
•Coccossis, H. (2000) Sustainable tourism: European experiences. 1st ed. Bristol: Biddles LTD
•Lane. (1994). Tourism Management: Profiling segments of tourists in rural areas, needs and wants. Department of Quantitative Methods for the Economy, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
•SKWIRK (2014) The History of Balinese tourism [Online]. [Acessed 26 April 2014]. Available at: http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-1_u-46_t-36_c-99/tourism/nsw/hsie/study-of-a-cultural-group-bali/changing-culture
Abstract: This paper looks in-depth into the difference between rural tourism and mass tourism, while looking into the effects that these forms of tourism have had on a tourist destination.
Keywords: Rural tourism, Mass tourism, Economy, environment
Rural tourism is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas. This form of tourism gives on the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate natural areas and nature, which has low visitor impacts and can provide future involvement to local populations Lane (1994) explains in depth rural tourism “it is not only farm-based tourism but also comprises special interest nature holiday and ecotourism, walking, climbing and riding holidays, adventure, sport and health tourism, hunting and angling, educational tourism, art and heritage tourism, and in some areas, ethnic tourism“. Rural tourism showcases the rural life to tourists who visit such areas, these form of showcases can include art, culture and heritage in rural locations
This can be a different story when rural tourism can be changed and developed into Mass tourism. Coccossis stated “the expansion of tourism has had a profound effect on many destination areasâ€. Mass tourism is a form of tourism that involves tens of thousands of people going to the same resort, mostly at the time of year. These sorts of holidays can be sold either as package deals or tailor made holidays to get you the cheapest deal. Coccossis argues “In some areas it has revitalizes local economies whilst in others it has destroyed them, traditions, cultures and social relationsâ€. There are many different types of mass tourism these include, skiing, sunbathing on beach holidays, Visiting theme parks and Taking a cruise. Mass tourism in some cases can cause unsustainable problems within destinations due to the vast amounts of tourists travelling to that one destination.
Bali is based in the Pacific Ocean, Mountains and hills are decorated and surrounded with green forest and agricultural areas which functioned as natural water sources for all parts of Bali. This island has a tropical climate change which is why it is so appealing to tourists. Bali is a destination that attracts a variety of different tourists throughout the year for many different reasons, some choose to seek the traveller life style Bali has to offer, where others choose the beach holiday life style as Bali is known mainly for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. SKWIRK (2014) explains “Tourism in Bali is a large industry and provides an income for many families and villages across the island. Bali is one Indonesian island that lacks natural resources, so tourism is vital to the island's economyâ€. Tourism within Bali has had an extensive history and dating as far back as 1597 however in recent years has shown a vast change in the number of tourists entering the country. SKWIRK (2014) explains “Mass tourism to the area has affected water resources, increased pollution, contributed to local flooding and has put pressure on the island's roads and transport. The water quality of coastal areas has deteriorated which has contributed to the destruction of coral reefsâ€. All have been vastly over occupied and destroyed over the years due to the amount of tourists vising this destination. SKWIRK (2014) believes “Tourism has many effects on a location, both good and bad, and it is important that tourists take responsibility for their actions, and are respectful of cultures and landsâ€.
Bali began development in 1969 which saw the government build a new airport for tourist to travel too. SKWIRK (2014) mentions that “During the 1970s and 1980s tourism to the area grew rapidly which caused a great wave of change to the island. Employment increased and the country was becoming more financially stable. The environment, however, felt the negative impacts.†Results show that in 1969 over 30,000 tourists visited this destination, but in 1993 there were over four million visitors entering Bali. The original development plan was to protect the local cultural integrity of Bali, but what the government didn’t expect was the attraction of the younger working travellers who wanted cheap accommodation, which then meant that Bali itself had to cater for two forms of tourists. The young traveller tourists and the richer travellers who then wanted to stay in the best form of accommodation. SKWIRK (2014) explains “In 1991 the government stopped hotel construction in Bali because of the pressure on the area's natural resources. The government realised that poor planning, combined with the rapid growth in tourism could potentially ruin everything that was making the island so appealing to tourists in the first place. SKWIRK (2014) explains “Tourism in Bali has experienced rapid growth over the last 25 years and is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. People from around the world are attracted by its intricate rice paddies, beaches, temples and fascinating cultureâ€.
It is clear to see that tourism has played a major role and essential source of earning. It can be evidently seen that almost all of economic activities in Bali were dependant on the tourism sector. This being said Bali may be looking to find a more sustainable future but there are still main issues facing the mass tourism effects on the local economy, and while trying to place more rural resort in Bali these could then turn into mass tourism resorts.
Reference
•Coccossis, H. (2000) Sustainable tourism: European experiences. 1st ed. Bristol: Biddles LTD
•Lane. (1994). Tourism Management: Profiling segments of tourists in rural areas, needs and wants. Department of Quantitative Methods for the Economy, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
•SKWIRK (2014) The History of Balinese tourism [Online]. [Acessed 26 April 2014]. Available at: http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-1_u-46_t-36_c-99/tourism/nsw/hsie/study-of-a-cultural-group-bali/changing-culture