Is The Party Over For Bali? Leaders Propose Tough New Tourism Legislations

Share The Article

Government Ministers in Indonesia are working on new legislation that could help control the surging number of tourists in Bali.

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, issued updates to the public this week at the Indonesia Quality Tourism Conference. 

Minister Pandjaitan expressed concern that the high number of tourists visiting Bali is having an increasingly negative impact on local residents.

In his statement, Minister Pandjaitan said, “There are more than two hundred thousand foreigners living in Bali right now. It causes some problems. We want to maintain Balinese culture because Bali, without their culture, is no longer Bali as a paradise island.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wonderful Indonesia (@wonderfulindonesia)

He touched upon widespread concerns that the influx of foreigners and foreign investment is starting to decrease the overall quality of tourism and the tourism sector on the island.

Minister Pandjaitan said, “We will take action to achieve sustainable tourism. We must respect the local culture. I think this is not a crazy island. This is Bali, which has a very beautiful culture, and we have to maintain this one.”

He added, “Hopefully, next week, we will hold a meeting in Jakarta to complete this new regulation.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wonderful Indonesia (@wonderfulindonesia)

Minister Pandjaitan did not give further details about exactly what new policies will be created or how they will tackle the range of issues facing Bali Province with regard to tourism at this time.

One issue he touched upon was waste management, which is a key issue that must be addressed, though he acknowledged that efforts have been made with limited success. 

One key aspect Minister Pandjaitan wants to see focused on in new policies is that there is an urgent need to promote more cultural respect from foreigners who visit the island. The minister explicitly called for the tightening of laws on partying in reference to live events and activities at nightlife venues.

He said, “We also don’t want to see the party venue become a villa or a club become a naked club. We will not let them do it, so we will arrange it.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Idiots In Bali (@idiots_inbali)

What this means for venues and party-loving tourists remains to be seen. For now, however, it is business as usual for Bali-bound party animals. 

Yet, Minister Pandjaitan is calling for tougher restrictions and highlighting the many issues facing Bali’s tourism sector. The Indonesian Minister for Tourism, Sandiaga Uno, is focusing on the positives. 

In a presentation at the International Tourism Quality Conference in Sanur on Friday, 30th August, Minister Uno explained that the average spend and the average stay of holidaymakers in Bali is increasing.

He explained that the average expenditure of holidaymakers in Indonesia is USD 1,500. Minister Uno shared, “The achievement is around 50% higher compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He also took the opportunity to confirm how the Minister of Tourism is redefining travel in Bali in 2024 and beyond.

Minister Uno said, “Previously, we focused on the three S’s, namely sun, sea, and sand.”

Now, the three S’s stand for serenity, spirituality, and sustainability, all part of a wider bid to promote culturally respectful and sustainable tourism across all tourism destinations in Bali. 

As Minister Uno is focusing on positive progress and Minister Pandjaitan is set to create new measures to ensure tourists are easier to control, Indonesia’s immigration teams are cracking down on those individuals who are breaking the law and bringing Bali’s reputation into disrepute.

From the 22-23rd August, Indonesia’s Immigration teams executed a nationwide surveillance operation that saw 507 monitoring posts conduct checks on foreigners residing in the county.

Over 180 cases requiring further legal action were detected, including cases in Bali Province. 

Last month, Immigration officials revealed the most common reasons why tourists are deported or denied entry to Indonesia. One of the most common visa violations is overstaying.