Surfers have been coming to Bali for many years. In fact, they are credited with kick-starting the island's tourism industry. According to IndoSurf Life, it was "the launch of the classic surf film Morning of the Earth in 1972, with its depiction of the mythical wave at Uluwatu, (which) opened the floodgates of surf tourism in Bali."

Eight years later in 1980, Bali hosted its first international Pro-Surfing competition, called the Om Bali Pro, which was also held at Uluwatu.

Image by JP Levarren

Surfers and tourism in Bali

The affect the surfers have had on Bali, especially the Bukit has been striking. Gone are the dirt tracks and cliff side steps to secret breaks only the chosen few would ride. Now the area in and around Uluwatu and Padang-Padang, for example is serviced by some of Bali's most luxurious hotels, resorts and golf courses.

What is interesting about the surfing community however, is a sense of social responsibility. Many remember those halcyon days of perfect waves on deserted beaches and bush tracks and some feel responsible for the surf tourism boom that kick-started Bali's popularity.

Social Responsibility

People like Patrick Burgess, for example co-founder of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), trains legal aid lawyers to defend the rights of local communities from unscrupulous property developers; and Claude Graves, who IndoSurf Life say is "one of the pioneers of surfing in Bali," has raised millions of dollars for the Sumba Foundation.

And there are many more who help local communities deal with the cultural and environmental impacts of tourism.

Absolute beachfront land on Saba Beach by Harcourts Purba. Image by Harcourts Purba

According to Eugene Shivnan from Harcourts Purba, the "Bali was really given global exposure through the eyes of legendary surf travellers peter McCabe, Gerry Lopez and friends and the WSL have been consistently promoting environmental issues in Bali, especially those around Bali being plastic free, which really started the flow of surfers arriving and areas like Uluwatu and Padang-Padang took off. Promoting areas like Keramas now will go a long way in exposing areas less well known.

Keramas on Bali's East Coast

This year's World Surfing League (WSL) Champions Tour could well boost the economy of Keramas on Bali's East Coast in Gianyar. The event, called the Corona Bali ProTected, started on Monday and runs through until May 25. According to Antara News, there will be 56 of the world's leading surfers from Australia, North America, South Africa, Brazil, Hawaii and France competing for top honours.

And with the celebrity surfers also comes the media circus. Something Indonesia's tourism ministry is very well aware of.

5-bedroom riverside villa for sale in Gianyar with Saba Beach views by Xclusive Property. Image by Xclusive Property

The potential of Sport Tourism in Bali

Okezone are reporting that Indroyono Soesilo, the Head of the Tourism Ministry's Maritime Tourism Acceleration Team, said the government was seriously looking at the potential of surfing along with other activities to be able to tap in to Sports Tourism. "The government sees great potential from surfing. That's why, starting last year, we worked with WSL and provided support for several surfing events held in Indonesia," he said.

Indroyono went on to say "Indonesia has hundreds of surf beaches, 30 of which are world-class surfing locations. Of these 30 locations, 11 of them are the venue for WSL 2019 so that this will place Indonesia as the number one surfing destination in the world."

Minsiter of Tourism, Arief Yahya supports the initiative because of the bigger picture, suggesting if Indonesia were able to take advantage of nautical sports, such as surfing, it would set the country as a top maritime destination.

Real Estate opportunities

And with more than 17,000 islands the potential for this is huge. Andrzej Barski from Harcourts Seven Stones agrees. "Indonesia's natural beauty is truly magnificent and the potential to develop nautical sports is off-the-charts. But to develop areas ethically, with concern for the environment, local communities and infrastructure isn't so easy, especially as this is a long-term thing. Political will needs to be there, and to be quite honest it isn't there yet. Developing without addressing these concerns is simply not going to be sustainable. Indonesia has a wonderful opportunity to lead the world in the way destinations are developed and we need key stakeholders to realize this."

Ocean view villa complex for sale near Candi Dasa by Harcourts Seven Stones. Image by Harcourts Seven Stones.

Keramas in Gianyar is in an area of interest for the property market in Bali. In a recent report filed by Gapura Bali, the less developed east coast is being given a much needed and long awaited boost. The dual carriageway known as Jalan ByPass IB Mantra which connects Sanur to Keramas and all the way to Padang Bai, Manggis and Karangasem is being developed. This is an idea publicly supported by President Jokowi and work is slated to begin on the Kusamba-Padang Bai section of the highway extension in 2020.

7-bedroom beachfront for sale on Bali's north coast by Exotiq Property Bali. Image by Exotiq Property Bali.

Local real estate agencies have also been marketing an increasing number of properties in the area. Xclusive Property recently offered a 5-bedroom riverside villa for sale in Gianyar with Saba Beach views; Harcourts Seven Stones have an ocean view villa complex for sale near Candi Dasa; Harcourts Purba are marketing absolute beachfront land on Saba Beach; and Exotiq Property Bali have a 7-bedroom beachfront for sale on Bali's north coast.
 
Sources: Antara News, IndoSurf Life, Okezone, Gapura Bali

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