A Narrative Review of Tourism Growth, Environmental Sustainability, and Community Perspectives
Target journals: Journal of Sustainable Tourism (Taylor & Francis) / Ocean & Coastal Management (Elsevier) Manuscript type: Narrative Review Article Author: Seli Kasela
Balangan Beach, located on the Bukit Peninsula of Bali, has become an increasingly important coastal tourism destination because of its natural landscape and international reputation for surfing. Tourism has contributed to local economic development, but growing visitor numbers have raised concerns regarding environmental degradation, infrastructure capacity, and equitable community benefits. This narrative review synthesizes published literature concerning tourism development, environmental conditions, governance, and socio-economic impacts associated with Balangan Beach and comparable coastal destinations in Bali. The review finds that tourism demand remains strong and contributes positively to regional economic activity. However, evidence also indicates recurring environmental pressures, including coastal erosion, marine debris, wastewater challenges, and shoreline change. Existing studies further suggest that effective governance, community participation, and local wisdom are essential for balancing tourism growth with environmental conservation. Despite increasing scholarly attention to Bali’s tourism sector, site-specific research on Balangan Beach remains limited. Significant knowledge gaps include visitor behavior, resident perceptions, carrying-capacity assessment, and long-term environmental monitoring. Future interdisciplinary research integrating tourism, environmental science, and community development is recommended to support evidence-based coastal management.
Keywords: Tourism Development; Sustainable Tourism; Balangan Beach; Bali; Coastal Management; Community Participation; Environmental Sustainability
Tourism represents one of Indonesia’s most significant economic sectors, with Bali serving as its primary international gateway and economic engine. Among Bali’s southern coastal attractions, Balangan Beach on the Bukit Peninsula has gained rapid popularity due to its dramatic limestone cliff formations, white sandy shoreline, and world-class surfing conditions.
Rapid tourism expansion across the island has generated direct employment, increased local incomes, and accelerated infrastructure development. Nevertheless, coastal tourism frequently introduces severe environmental pressures, including marine debris accumulation, shoreline erosion, habitat degradation, wastewater contamination, and increased stress on local freshwater tables.
While general Balinese tourism dynamics are widely documented, site-specific academic synthesis for Balangan Beach remains sparse. This narrative review synthesizes published literature concerning tourism development, physical coastal conditions, community involvement, and institutional governance at Balangan Beach, identifying key empirical evidence, auditing destination assumptions, and outlining priority directions for future interdisciplinary research.
Tourism operates as the foundational driver of the Balinese economy, generating foreign exchange, regional government revenue, and multi-sector employment. Research across coastal destinations in Bali confirms that destination attractiveness—including scenic geography, ocean swells, and coastal aesthetics—is a primary driver of positive tourist experiences. Destination-loyalty frameworks show that physical pull factors shape destination image, which influences visitor satisfaction and repeat visitation. Balangan Beach contributes to this network by attracting international surf enthusiasts and domestic nature-based tourists.