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‘They should be kept sacred’, Bali to limit tourists' access to the mountains
The Bali provincial administration has planned to limit tourists' access to the mountains, saying that tourism activities have harmed their sacredness.
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Tourists hike Mount Batur in Bali in this undated photo. (Shutterstock/Macca Sherifi)
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Governor Wayan Koster announced on Jan. 30 that the administration would issue a regulation to bring back the sacredness of all mountains across the island. He emphasized that the regulation was badly needed as tourism activities on the summits were out of control.
“People should no longer freely enter the area, [or] make tourism destinations on the top. Moreover, many people ride their motorbikes onto the summits. I think it is too much,” Wayan Koster stated in the meeting with Bali lawmaker (DPRD Bali) on spatial planning of the predominantly Hindu island.
Koster said that the plan to limit tourist access to the mountain peaks has also been made considering the Hindu religious leaders’ recommendations.
“Highest religious leaders have gathered and decided that mountains should be kept sacred, and they have recommended [the ban]. Therefore, I should accommodate it,” he said.
Balinese Hindus strongly believe that mountains are sacred areas and any negative activity could harm their sacredness. Local villagers hold a special ritual every time any negative incident occurrs, believing it would be able to cleanse the bad spirit.
