Bali’s worsening drought is blamed on tourists using more than half its water

The tropical paradise of Bali is on the brink of ecological collapse, experts have warned, with more than 90 per cent of the island affected by drought.

As the Indonesian destination, popular with luxury travellers, honeymooners and gap year voyagers alike, awaits its overdue wet season, locals have warned that rivers have run dry, rice paddies lay barren and water tables are depleted. 

Bali, Indonesia’s most popular tourist island, has seen visitor numbers soar in recent years – in 2010 it welcomed 2.49million arrivals; last year it was 6million – and there are concerns that its growing allure is exacerbating the problem.

Stroma Cole, a senior lecturer in tourism geography at the University…