Member of the House Commission III I Wayan Sudirta at a Working Visit meeting of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Denpasar, Bali. Photo: Bunga/vel

PARLEMENTARIA, Denpasar – The House Commission III on law, security, and human rights conducted a Recess Working Visit to Denpasar, Bali. One of the issues highlighted by Commission III in the working visit was the large number of misbehaving tourists who violate the local customs or being a nuisance to others. Unsurprisingly, their actions have got them in trouble with the local community.

In response to this phenomenon, Member of the Commission III I Wayan Sudirta expects that the Bali Police Chief Ida Bagus Kade Putra Narendra to deal with the violations wisely, with due consideration of the Balinese customs and cultural values.

Therefore, according to I Wayan, Bali should have its own way of dealing with the uncivil tourists. Certain policies like deportation must not be carried out without further considerations.

"Balinese people, after all, mostly work in the hospitality industry, so tourists are part of their daily lives. However, you certainly don't want to overindulge them because ill-mannered tourists would only ruin our tourism and hurt Bali's economy. We need to come up with a wise solution," said I Wayan in a meeting in Denpasar, Bali, Friday (3/5/2024).

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician also expressed his appreciation to the Bali Police Chief and the entire force for having successfully managed the cases with a restorative justice approach. Moreover, the Bali Police also deserve praise for their collaboration with the immigration under the Bali Provincial Law and Human Rights Office in handling misdemeanors committed by tourists.

"My highest appreciation to the Bali Police Chief and all the Bali Police Force for their achievement. I applaud the way they monitor and follow up on incoming reports, especially how they prioritize restorative justice in resolving cases," he concluded.

In responding to the MP's statement, Police Chief Ida Bagus Kade Putra Narendra shared his opinion with Sudirta's idea that misdemeanors by tourists must be dealt with carefully. This is particularly important considering the impact on the tourism sector and the preservation of Balinese culture.

"We will work together, even cross-agency if necessary, to find solutions that are in line with the customs, culture, and economic interests of the Balinese people," said Ida Bagus.

The recess working visit is expected to be the first step towards better management of misbehaving tourists in Bali. With a wise approach and cross-sectoral collaboration between the Bali Police Force, related institutions, and the local government, a safer, more comfortable, and more sustainable tourism industry is expected to benefit both tourists and the local community. (blf/rdn/agl)