State Officials React to Rowdy Tourists in Bali

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - International tourists who are temporarily residing in Bali are currently under the spotlight following a number of violations they committed, and for allegedly working illegally.

One case that has been handled by the island’s police is a criminal offense committed by a Russian national identified as SR, who allegedly violated his visa permit by working as a photographer in Bali. The Denpasar Immigration Office has officially deported the individual. 

"SR obtained a visa on arrival that is valid from February 22, 2023, until March 27, 2023,” said the head of the Denpasar immigration office Tedy Riyandi on March 8, 2023. 

A visa on arrival is a temporary stay visa granted to foreign citizens mainly in tourism regions. Meanwhile, in RS's case, to work in any Indonesian region, a foreigner must submit a different specific visa that would allow them to generate income during their stay. 

"SR claims to be a photographer in Bali. However, his visa is only intended for vacation. SR uploads his work to his Instagram account," said Tedy, as reported by Antaranews.

The Russian citizen had violated Article 75 (1) of Law No. 6/2011 concerning Immigration (Immigration Law). Pursuant to a provision of the Immigration Law, deportation is one of the sanctions for those who violate their visa. SR had already been sent home on March 9, 2023.

Head of Bali’s law and human rights regional office’s immigration division, Barron Ichsan, said that his personnel managed to apprehend 22 foreign tourists who are in Bali over administrational immigration violations. These arrests were made from January up to the second week of March. 

Out of the dozens of violators, Barron said most were committed by Russian citizens. 

Despite dominating local headlines over a myriad of violations, Barron called for the Indonesian public to reserve their judgment against Russian tourists. "We should not judge them as evil people as there are other foreign nationals who also commit violations in Indonesia," he said. 

Stirring Public Opinion on Social Media 

An Instagram account dubbed @moscow_cabang_bali, which literally translates to Moscow’s branch in Bali is one of many social accounts that consistently upload images of business activities conducted by foreign tourists in Bali. This account would often promote business services conducted on the island such as becoming aerobic instructors, photography, tattoo artists, and even driving instructors. 

The account garnered the attention of local residents with many comment sections tagging government social media accounts urging for action to be done by authorities. 

Reactions from State Officials 

Bali Governor Wayan Koster recently said that he would impose firm sanctions on foreign nationals who are involved in violations and asserted that he has communicated this to Bali police. 

"I held a meeting with the Police Chief and the Law and Human Rights Ministry yesterday, along with other stakeholders. We urged [law enforcers] to identify the number of violations that are committed by foreign nationals in the Bali province," the governor said. 

Meanwhile, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said that despite Indonesia’s openness to the international community who visit the country, he asserted that any of those foreign tourists who act against the law will receive firm consequences. 

“We are very open to international tourists. We will spread the red carpet. But they must abide by any rule of law and norm that exist here,” Sandiaga said. 

A comment regarding this situation also came from the Maritime Affairs and Investments Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who insisted that Bali does not need foreign tourists who go rogue and violate local Bali wisdom.

"Bali will be ruined if the island continues to be trashed by rowdy tourists and those who litter,” Luhut said. 

ANTARA

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