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COORDINATING Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) highlighted the need to immediately identify the best solution to the traffic issues plaguing Bali to provide greater comfort to tourists.
“Heavy traffic could make (tourists) feel uncomfortable during their stay in Bali, leading to significant (negative) impacts. This applies not only to Bali but also to other tourism destinations across Indonesia. Thus, we are trying to find the best solution,” he remarked here on Wednesday.
Speaking at a briefing for graduates of a college managed by the Transportation Ministry, AHY spoke of having met with Bali Acting Governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya to get updates on the traffic problems affecting the tourism province.
“I have directly met with the Bali acting governor and his aides and acquired explanations from them. I can confirm that we are currently in the process of dealing with the issues and considering available options,” he pointed out.
The minister then elaborated on the significance of implementing improved traffic management in Bali, noting that the province has been one of Indonesia’s mainstay tourism destinations for international travelers.
“It should be noted that Bali acts not only as a featured tourism destination but also as a world-class tourism spot. For that reason, we truly hope for the best experiences for both international and domestic tourists,” he stressed.
Earlier, on October 31, I Putu Anom, a professor at Bali’s University of Udaya, told ANTARA that lack of effective governance has been one of the major obstacles hindering the development of Bali’s tourism sector.
He observed that the province’s district and municipal governments tended to fixate on tax as a source of regional revenue, neglecting the need to issue a permit only for restaurants and hotels, whose presence is not at odds with spatial planning.
As a result, he pointed out that the south of Bali is overcrowded with tourism facilities, which, in turn, led to heavy traffic all the way to Ubud in central Bali. [antaranews/photo special]
