Exploring Bali’s Tourism Dynamics through Nighttime Light Satellite Imagery

Mutia Kamalia Mukhtar

Abstract


This study explores the growth of the tourism sector in Bali, Indonesia, over the period 2015 to 2023 using Nighttime Light (NTL) satellite imagery as an indicator of economic activity and urbanization. Tourism, as the main sector driving Bali's economy, shows a pattern of development that is reflected by an increase in nighttime light intensity. VIIRS DNB imagery processed through Google Earth Engine provides an effective and cost-effective method to map tourism development. Findings show that high-intensity zones have expanded significantly in Denpasar, Kuta, and Nusa Dua, while medium-intensity areas such as Gianyar and Tabanan have also increased. Correlation analysis confirms a strong positive relationship between light intensity, the number of tourists, and hotel development, validating the use of NTL as a tourism indicator. In contrast, the area of low-light-intensity areas continues to decline, indicating urbanization is happening. However, this growth also brings significant environmental challenges, such as light pollution, land use change, and increased energy consumption. Therefore, the adoption of sustainable tourism practices, including the use of green lighting, transition to renewable energy, and conservation of green spaces, is crucial to maintain the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Keywords


Nighttime light; VIIRS DNB; Bali; tourism; satellite imagery

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/gea.v25i2.81112

DOI (PDF): https://doi.org/10.17509/gea.v25i2,%20October.81112.g34479

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