Foreign tourist visits to Indonesia, especially Bali, are on the rise, but many foreign tourists are also misbehaviour. It seems that the government will issue new rules regarding foreign tourist visits to the Island of the Gods, Bali. This is to overcome the overflow of tourist visits that disturb local residents.
Because, despite the potential for a large economy. The influx of foreign tourists has also caused a number of problems, such as diminishing places for local residents to live.
One of Indonesia’s high-profile ministers emphasised that all parties, including problematic foreign tourists, must respect Balinese culture.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed that many foreign tourists come to Bali, which creates problems.
He said the number of foreign tourists in Bali is booming, and it is estimated to be over 200,000 people.
Unfortunately, many make trouble and do not respect Balinese culture.
“About 200,000 foreigners live in Bali at the moment, but it also creates some problems. We want to maintain Balinese culture; if Bali loses their culture, Bali will no longer be a paradise island,” Luhut said during his keynote speech at the International Quality Tourism Conference 2024, which was broadcast virtually on Thursday, 29 August 2024.
In fact, Luhut said not to make Bali a perverted island, aka a nude island.
“So ladies and gentlemen, we also have to respect local culture. I don’t think this is a nude island. This is Bali, with a very beautiful culture, we must defend it,” Luhut said.
Luhut said that the government will soon discuss new policies that will be taken to overcome tourism problems in Bali.
“Hopefully, next week, we will hold a meeting in Jakarta to finalise this new regulation,” he said, as reported by CNN Indonesia.
Luhut also highlights foreign tourists working in Bali illegally
Luhut also said that there are a lot of foreigners who make businesses that cause local people to lose their livelihoods. Luhut said the government no longer wants to see foreigners replacing local jobs in Bali.
“Don’t misunderstand this, because we also don’t want local people’s jobs to be replaced by foreign tourists. We don’t want to see this happen. We also have to create prosperity for the Balinese people,” said Luhut.
He also gave an ultimatum for foreign tourists who make problems that lead to criminal acts in Bali, deportation could be the reward.
The former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs also mentioned that they deported and blacklisted many drug gangs and gangsters from entering Indonesia. He explained that there are around 10,000 people who have been denied from entering Indonesia for committing crimes in this country.
Earlier in July 2024, authorities arrested a Thai fugitive who was also wanted by Interpol. Indonesian authorities arrested the fugitive named Chaowalit Thongduang in Bali, as he entered Indonesia as a tourist.
“For foreign tourists who bring problems here, such as drug gangs and others, we can deport them from Indonesia, from Bali. We also don’t want them to enter Bali again because they create problems in Bali,” said Luhut.
