The Migration of Australians to Bali, Indonesia: More than Retirees and Surfers

Abstract

The factors underpinning the migration of Australian residents to Bali, Indonesia, and the demographic characteristics of the Australian expatriate population in Bali are examined. It is argued that in undertaking a move to Bali, Australian expatriates are employing a deliberate strategy to utilise their existing financial resources and social networks to gain a lifestyle they perceive would not be available to them if they were to remain in Australia. However, it is also argued that there is considerable diversity in the factors underpinning migration decisions. Through a survey of 236 Australians living in Bali, it was found that a complex of place-based and non-place-based factors influenced migration decisions. It was also found that some factors underpinning migration were broadly associated with phase in the life course. While the survey identified only a minor overrepresentation of Australian retirees living in Bali, given the factors that were identified as underpinning migration to Bali, and with the large baby boomer population nearing retirement, it is probable that as Australia's population ages, there will be further growth in the number and proportional share of older Australians living in Bali.

Migrating to a new country in late life: A review of the literature on international retirement migration

“…Also, many different types of settlement options exist within countries, particularly in terms of rural or urban destinations. One factor that appeared to be important in destination selection is prior travel experience (Ashton et al 2019;Bell 2017;Benson 2010;Rojas, LeBlanc, and Sunil 2014;Davies and Hoath 2016). Prior visits create familiarity with the destination's culture and people before migration.…”

“On the move, or staying put?” An analysis of intrametropolitan residential mobility and ageing in place

“…Traditionally, intrametropolitan retirement residential mobility favoured the coastal locations of Rockingham (South‐West) and Mandurah Peel (Gurran, ). Due to Perth's relative isolation, older adult migration out of the metropolitan area has tended to go to regional centres in the South‐West of the State (the Margaret River area) and to small rural towns (Davies, ; Gurran, ; Vintila, ), with few moving interstate or overseas (Australian Bureau of Statistics, ; Davies & Hoath, ). This has been observed in retirement migration and is thought to be less applicable to moves undertaken by older adults because facilities and services are located in larger urban centres (Davies, ).…”

Mobility at Retirement: A New Life Purpose Operating Social Justice Projects in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos

“…For elder relocaters, voluntary migration has also been theorised in relation to the life course [26,4]. As people age, their activities and means also change and they might review options for the future.…”

“…Various writers have addressed the recapitulation of colonialism as an inherent part of tourism by Westerners in former colonies [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. Development policies and agencies are also charged with this [31].…”