Bali Congested with Infrastructure, Tourism Minister Calls for Moratorium on Hotel Construction

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, is drafting a policy for a moratorium on hotel construction and the cessation of converting agricultural lands into commercial uses, especially in Bali.

Sandiaga endorses the call for a moratorium as several tourist destinations are beginning to be congested with construction, reducing the safety and comfort of visiting tourists.   

“The policy (on hotel construction and land conversion) that the government will soon finalize considers the potential for congestion that will result in an unsafe and uncomfortable situation, especially in several destinations in Indonesia,” Sandiaga said on the sidelines of International Quality Tourism Conference in Sanur, Denpasar, Bali, last Friday, September 6, 2024, as quoted from Antara.

The policy, Sandiaga said, will address tourism accommodation, which lacks consideration for sustainability. The Minister has not revealed the details of the new policies, which remain under review. 

Nonetheless, Sandiaga has promised that the details of the new policy will be completed in the coming few days and then discussed in a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi. 

“The decision will be taken together with President Jokowi to formulate concrete steps to ensure Indonesian tourism remains high quality, provides entrepreneurial opportunities, and creates employment,” Sandiaga said.

Sandiaga said the new policy will be implemented in crowded tourist destinations and at risk of becoming boring. The Tourism Minister plans to reevaluate some parts of South Bali such as Denpasar City, Badung Regency, Gianyar Regency, and Tabanan Regency (Sarbagita). 

“We will focus on the Sarbagita region, but we must review the approach because not all parts of South Bali are the same; maybe Badung is different compared to Tabanan. We will formulate the approach later,” the minister said.

However, Sandiaga assured that the policy will not contradict the target for foreign visits, which points to 14 million this year. The minister said evaluation will be conducted every three to six months once the policy is in place. 

“We will hit the brakes if the policy becomes burdensome, but when we need to drive the economy, we’ll step on the gas,” he said.

For information, data from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) shows that classified hotels and accommodation in Indonesia have amounted to 29,005 units and 747,066 rooms. Meanwhile, there are approximately 61,000 units of AirBnb or accommodation businesses in Indonesia, with 34,000 units in Bali.

ANTARA

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