Author Identifier (ORCID)
Ferry Jie: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6287-8471
Abstract
The rapid expansion of tourism in Bali and Lombok has precipitated a state of overtourism, critically challenging their ecological and socio-cultural carrying capacities. This study, conducted between 2023 and 2024, employs a qualitative case study approach to investigate the manifestations of overtourism and the efficacy of prevailing mitigation strategies. Data were collected through 32 in-depth interviews, four focus group discussions, and extensive field observations across key destinations in both islands. The findings reveal that overtourism is not merely a function of high visitor numbers but a symptom of systemic governance failure. Key manifestations include acute environmental degradation, the commodification of cultural heritage, and significant economic leakage that marginalizes local communities. These issues are exacerbated by fragmented policy, weak regulatory enforcement, and the exclusion of local voices from tourism planning. The study concludes that technical solutions such as visitor quotas are insufficient without a fundamental governance paradigm shift. Effective mitigation requires an integrated approach centered on strict carrying capacity enforcement, genuine community empowerment through Community-Based Tourism (CBT), and the strategic use of digital tools for visitor dispersion. This research provides an empirically grounded framework that underscores the imperative of a fundamental governance paradigm shift, aligning tourism development in island destinations with the principles of sustainability and equity.
Keywords
Bali, community-based tourism, destination governance, Lombok, overtourism, sustainable tourism
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2-1-2026
Volume
16
Issue
2
Publication Title
Societies
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Business and Law
Funders
Center for Research & Community Development, Universitas Pelita Harapan (P002-RING-FPar/VII/2024)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Pramono, R., Juliana, J., Hulu, M., Djakasaputra, A., & Jie, F. (2026). Overtourism in Bali and Lombok: A governance and community perspective on challenges and strategies for sustainable development. Societies, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16020065