It's not only crime rates that threaten Bali's tourism industry.

The island is faced with overpopulation and serious environmental issues. Poor infrastructure, lack of adequate planning, horrendous traffic jams, etc. also don't instill confidence for its future. Endless rhetoric and relentless hyperbole have use-by-dates.

Having said that, I don't agree with the scathing portrayals here of Balinese in general. Sure, there are many like that - but there are also many very decent Balinese who are pissed-off with what's happening, too.

Whilst I hope that they can arrest the ongoing rape of their island, I fear it may already be too late.

I've been visiting Indonesia 8 more times since my first visit in March 2006, but I refused to go to Bali until 2009(and then I only went there to meet someone I fell in love with).

Being almost exclusively in Jakarta before, I was surprised how lonely you can feel in Bali and how unsafe I felt there...even in the middle of Bekasi at night, waiting for a cab, I didn't feel worried, but in Bali, lots of banci, gays or drug dealer keep hitting on you and they don't take no for an answer! Also, no offense, but the Balinese seem to be totally lazy slackers, only interested in ripping off everybody(at least they rip off locals too, so there's no injustice). I'm originally from Germany and it seems like Bali is the Australian equivalent to what Mallorca is to German or British...they think it's "their" island(I heard some Australians actually believe it's part of Australia) and there's a lot more lewd behavior than I saw in any other part of Indonesia...

Indonesia is so blessed with heavens of the best richest resources and most beautiful places, but it also has the worst government in maintaining the heavens! I guess God is fair.

Blightyboy: I'm guessing there'll be a few more years of tourism left in Bali before the backlash takes grip and the numbers dry up - then what will be left? The Balinese have committed themselves exclusively to chasing the tourist dollar at the expense of developing any other sustainable industry. Tempers will flare and violence will ensue - then when the smoke clears and the dust settles the Balinese will be left with nothing and nobody to blame but themselves. Sad, but they are writing their own kharma ticket.

Bali is basically consuming itself.

I live in Ubud, and what was once a nice town is now being destroyed by the greed and incompetence of the administration. There is even a plan being touted by one of the Royals to build and underground car-park below the soccer field in the centre of the town. Anybody who knows Ubud will see immediately that this is a crazy idea that makes no sense, accept of course to the self serving Royal. Everybody knows that out-or-town parking with ride-in facilities is the answer, but the administration refuses to accept this. And why, because they are making big bucks off coaches and parking, but meanwhile retailers are suffering because of the chaos, and the town is dying a chocking, painful death. I know a number of hoteliers and they all same the same thing, most visitors to Ubud say they will not return. Greed and corruption are killing Ubud, and will eventually kill tourism across Bali. Grab what you can now and [edit[ the future, is the Balinese way.