Impression of Bali's Business After One Week on the Island
Bali's growing tourism and expat presence boost the economy and create opportunities for businesses, but they also make the island more crowded and expensive. While this development drives growth, it challenges Bali’s original peaceful charm.
Malo Amery
2/5/20251 min read
After spending one week on the island, I noticed that Bali is a very popular place. I think that 10 years ago it was less famous and probably had fewer tourists. Now, when you walk in the streets of Bali, you see that most people are not locals. There are many foreigners, like tourists or expats. This might not be the best for local people because of how crowded it is, but I think it’s a big opportunity for businesses in Bali.
Tourism is one of the most important ways for a country to make money, and people here understand that. Many expats are starting businesses for tourists instead of locals, like restaurants or shops inspired by American or European culture. Activities like diving or ATV tours are also mostly for tourists. But the biggest attraction is Bali’s natural places. They have become famous thanks to social media. Spots like waterfalls, sunset viewpoints, and other natural areas are often managed by companies or local governments (like Monkey Forest). These places are promoted a lot on Instagram and TikTok, which makes them even more popular.
The good thing about this is that it brings a lot of people and money to Bali. But the bad thing is that it’s too crowded, and almost everything now has a cost. Bali is not expensive, but nothing is free anymore—not even parking.
This growth in tourism and expats is still good for Bali because it helps develop the island and create jobs. But it might not be the best for people who want to keep Bali as a quiet, paradise-like island.