Tourism Ministry Denies Casino Plans for Bali
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6 August 2024 07:05 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has denied rumors of a casino being established in Bali. “I could firmly state that there is no [plan to build] a casino,” Minister Sandiaga Uno said during a weekly press conference in Jakarta on Monday, August 5, 2024.
Echoing the minister's stance, the ministry's main expert Nia Niscaya emphasized that casino gambling is illegal and is strictly prohibited in Indonesia.
“We are a nation governed by law, so there can’t be [a casino],” she stressed.
Bali's Tourism Office has also dismissed the idea. “The proposal to build a casino is not feasible due to existing laws,” Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, said after the hearing with the Bali Legislative Council in Denpasar on Monday,
He added that Bali's focus remains on cultural tourism, aligning with the nation's values. “What’s clear is that our foundation is culture, so it is cultural tourism being developed. It’s not about rejecting something, but this is a cultural tourism,” Tjok Bagus remarked.
He made the statement in response to a proposal from the head of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) Bali, Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, to establish a casino on the island.
Hipmi Bali argued that the closure of online gambling would lead to a shift to offline gambling, presenting a potential opportunity for casinos.
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