Indonesia’s Ministry Of Tourism Expresses Fears Over Rising Crime In Bali

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Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, has been talking to the media about her concerns regarding the increase in the number of foreigners in Bali engaging in criminal activity.

Her comments come as Bali Immigration this week confirmed the arrest of four foreigners working on tourist visas and the deportation of six others on similar offenses. 

Minister Ni Luh Puspa told reporters on Thursday 13th February that she is committed to resolving the issue of rising crime rates in Bali.

She explained, “This has also become a concern for the minister, we at the center are also very worried about this, we want to immediately find a solution together with the center and the regions.”

She confirmed that she is also exploring ways in which law enforcement can be made stronger in Bali to help deter criminally inclined individuals from operating in the region.

With specific reference to the violence that broke out at Finns Beach Club earlier this week, Minister Ni Luh Pupsa confirmed that the Ministry of Tourism is giving its full support to Bali Police in tackling these issues. 

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She added, “This [kind of behavior] has entered the criminal realm, of course, we support the police including the local government, of course, the steps of law enforcement need to be strengthened again.”

Minister Ni Luh Puspa spoke to the media after holding a joint meeting with the Bali House of Representatives in Badung Regency. All major tourism unions, associations, and agencies were attendees, and Bali’s top tourism stakeholders discussed what policy updates are necessary to help form the Third Amendment Bill to Law Number 10 of 2009 concerning Tourism. 

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The Minister shared, “Now we are listening to the aspirations of many good inputs, even very detailed article by article. We hope this can be completed soon because this is a carryover from the previous [policital] period.”

Changes to the way in which tourism is managed in Bali are clearly on the cards, but the impact any policy changes will have on tourists to the province remains to be seen.

She concluded, “There are many adjustments that need to be adapted to the current situation, so we feel it necessary for us to discuss together, and absorb aspirations so that when this law is completed it can provide a better contribution to Indonesian tourism in future.”

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Speaking separately, the Head of Bali’s Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, added that local officials regretted how this situation had come to be and that the criminal actions of foreign nationals in Bali had gone beyond what agencies had predicted. 

He shared “We want quality tourists to come, who respect Balinese culture, the environment Balinese people, this incident is a lesson for us.”

Pemayun also noted how a change in law enforcement is necessary, citing the policies outlined in Circular Letter Number 4 of 2022, which he feels do not now go far enough in their capacity to prevent the criminal actions of foreigners in the province, whether this be violent crime or immigration crime. 

Pemayun noted, “Of course, with this incident, we are intensifying again. We want to check the decision letter in Bali again because it needs some updates so we can anticipate these things.”

He confirmed that the Bali Tourism Office will install a fresh round of billboards to communicate the do’s and don’ts that tourists and foreigners must obey while in the province. 

While top officials in Bali continue to discuss and create a series of policy updates that will help keep the province safer and more peaceful for residents and tourists, the situation for foreigners in the region remains the same.

The protocol is simple; respect Indonesian law, honor and obey the conditions as stipulated in your visa category, and respect Balinese customs and culture.