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THE GOVERNOR of Bali, I Wayan Koster, assessed that many unruly foreign tourists in Bali were one of the consequences of the relaxed application of Visa On Arrival (VoA). In his notes, more than 80 countries have registered as VoA subjects to accelerate the recovery of Bali tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Several incidents that have emerged recently after the COVID-19 pandemic are of course the consequences of the implication of the policy to accelerate the recovery of post-pandemic Bali tourism which was given leeway in the form of a Visa on Arrival policy,” he said in a press conference at the Governor’s Office Jayasabha, Denpasar, Bali , Sunday (5/28), 2023.
Koster believes that this VoA policy has both good sides and weaknesses. On the one hand, it can attract more foreign tourists, on the other hand the emergence of various problems that have occurred recently.
In response to this, his party will soon hold a meeting with the central government to evaluate the implementation of this VoA.
“We will immediately hold a meeting with the central government to address and jointly evaluate this VoA policy so that its implementation does not give the impression of cheap tourism in Bali, which will harm the name and image of Bali tourism,” he said.
Koster revealed that in the near future his party would issue a comprehensive policy on Bali tourism management. But he has not explained in detail the policy.
“I think we will implement this, of course we will consider the psychology of the people in Bali who are currently carrying out tourism recovery so that it doesn’t become counterproductive in the context of implementing this firm policy,” he remarked.
Koster explained that the principle is that our tourism can be managed properly and take firm action for tourists who are not organized and do not comply with regulations in the country of Indonesia.
“Bali Immigration had deported 129 foreigners from various countries from January to May 2023. These foreigners were deported for committing various violations such as overstaying, misusing stay permits, violating the norms in force in Bali and ex-convicts,” he added.
There are quite a lot (foreigners being deported) which means we are very responsive. We, together with the Regional Police Chief, the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Immigration, moved quickly. As soon as we received news of the incident from social media and we immediately moved, those who must be deported, of course, must be in accordance according to the requirements stipulated by law. [sources/photo special]
