Member of Commission VII of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Siti Mukaromah, asked the Ministry of Tourism to evaluate the tourism industry in Bali as a whole.
Erma, as Siti Mukaromah is commonly known, delivered the statement in response to some tourism problems in Bali recently. The incidents include criminal acts like robberies against Ukrainian citizens and the closure of Russian village.
According to RRI.co.id, one of the nine perpetrators has been secured by the Bali Police at Ngurah Rai Airport when he was about to flee to Dubai.
Previously, there was a closure and dissolution of Parq Ubud or familiarly known as Russian village. It was an apartment equipped with a workspace, restaurant, café, and other facilities.
“Post-pandemic, the number of visits, especially foreign tourists in Bali, has increased. This is a potential that must be maximized,” said Erma explaining the reasons for the evaluation.
Erma assessed that Bali has its own attractions starting from the restaurant, hotel, culinary, and many other supporting industries. It is proven that in Bali in 2024, it has succeeded in attracting 6.3 million foreign tourists.
In addition, she said that a comprehensive solution is needed to overcome the problems of the tourism industry in Bali. Moreover, Bali is one of the best tourist destinations in the world.
“Also check local regulations. Is it enough to prevent various problems that arise?” she added.
One example of a regulation that needs to be evaluated is the provision regarding foreign investment, which allows foreign citizens or investors with a capital of IDR 10 billion to invest in Bali.
According to Erma, this regulation has the potential to cause unfair competition between foreign investors and can ignore the participation of local communities.
Therefore, she asked that the regulation be re-examined to ensure sustainability and fairness in the management of Bali’s tourism industry.
