Bali as icon : tourism, death and pleasure periphery

The Bali bombings have been a turning point. Carefree tourists and honeymooners have long flown to Bali from Australia and many other countries. They have been looking for a holiday with a difference and a brief taste of Asia in what has been a safe haven away from violence in other parts of the region … Now that has changed. Kuta Beach, its night-clubs, bars and cheap shopping are no longer an attractive lure for many young people and probably won’t be for some time to come. And it may be a long time before other tourists return to sample the island’s rich Hindu traditions, temples, breathtaking scenery and the legendary friendliness of its people.