"We currently often hear of foreign nationals causing problems in Bali Island, starting from violating traffic rules and working illegally, to violating customary laws," he said in a written statement released here on Monday.
He emphasized that foreigners who violate regulations may face deportation.
Soesatyo issued the statement after a visit from the representatives of the Russian community in Bali on Sunday (March 26, 2023).
Tourists from Russia are among those that are currently under the spotlight in Indonesia, he noted.
However, he noted that the number of Russian tourists who are disruptive is small compared to the total number of Russian tourists visiting Bali.
From January to March 2023, the number of Russian tourists visiting Bali reached 43,622, with the number of visits ranking second after Australians.
Although several Russian tourists have violated regulations, bilateral relations between Russia and Indonesia have been well-established since 1956 in various sectors, Soesatyo said.
Russia is a potential market and the main trade partner of Indonesia, with the aim of bringing the value of their bilateral trade to US$5 billion.
Russia ranks 37th among countries investing in Indonesia, and several Russian companies in the infrastructure, energy, and mining sectors have expressed interest in investing in Indonesia.
Despite a significant decline in Russia's investment in Indonesia in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a recovery in 2021 with US$8.7 million in 122 projects in the second quarter, an increase of 163.3 percent from the same period in 2020, according to Soesatyo.
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Translator: Tri Meilani, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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