However, the revival of tourism in Indonesia is followed by some negative aspects that trouble the community, such as the worrisome behavior of several foreign tourists, who act irresponsibly.
Last week, British national Damon Anthony Alexander Hills conducted uncivilized action and endangered public safety.
The 50-year-old man hijacked a truck carrying pottery that was parked and then drove it for kilometers from the Kerobokan area, Badung District, to the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
On the way, he hit several motorists and broke through the automatic toll gate on the Bali Mandara Toll Road, and his actions eventually resulted in damage to some airport properties.
Hills, allegedly driving under influence, was finally stopped and arrested by security officers and locals, and then taken to the police station for further investigation.
Earlier, at the end of May 2024, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office also arrested a group of 24 foreigners from Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana for their alleged involvement in fraud cases and violating their residence permit rules.
Supervision of foreigners
The emergence of problematic foreigners in Bali is a cause for serious concern for all parties who deem it necessary to conduct tighter supervision.
At the entrance to the island at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Immigration uses the new autogates that apply face recognition system technology.
The technology, which was installed at the airport in October 2023, captures images of visitors' faces and verifies their data in the passport, visa, and residence permit.
The Passenger Profile Information System and the immigration alert surveillance system are also used together to support immigration supervision.
With the installation of autogates, the immigration process is faster, more accurate, effective, and efficient, without overlooking the aspect of supervising foreigners after they pass immigration.
A total of 80 autogates are installed, with 60 of them in the international arrival area and 20 in the international departure area.
Deportation
Outside the airport, the Regional Office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry in Bali (Kemenkumham) conducts field supervision on problematic foreigners.
Foreign nationals deemed to cause unrest in the local area may be deported by authorities.
Deportation is carried out as a form of the state's commitment and supervision over foreigners.
During the period between January and June 7, 2024, as many as 135 foreigners from 41 countries were deported from Bali.
In detail, 10 countries with the most citizens being deported from Bali in that period are Australia, with 18 people, followed by 17 from Russia, 14 from the United States, eight from the United Kingdom, and six each from Iran and Tanzania.
The list was followed by five people each from Ukraine, Japan, and Germany and four from Italy.
The violations committed included exceeding the period of stay, being ex-convicts, committing customary violations, and failing to obey other laws.
Meanwhile, in 2023, as many as 340 foreigners in Bali were deported, an increase as compared to 188 in 2022.
Head of the Bali Kemenkumham Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu explained that after completing the legal process, the problematic foreigners will be deported.
In addition to deportation, her side also created the foreigner surveillance program (PORA) by collaborating with other related agencies, including village officials.
The supervision of foreigners in Bali is also carried out in collaboration with the Village Law and Human Rights Service Post.
Some 327 villages in nine districts and cities in Bali have these posts.
Under that program, village officials are urged to assist immigration officers in conducting routine operations to supervise foreigners, such as Operation Bali Becik, Operation Jagratara, and other joint operations.
Meanwhile, there is a need for the community's active participation, especially from tourism business owners, who are required to report the data of foreigners staying in their hotels, villas, and rental apartments through the Foreigner Reporting Application (APOA).
Moreover, there is an immigration complaint service if a foreign national is indicated to be carrying out suspicious and disturbing activities.
The Bali Kemenkumham has the 08113888770 WhatsApp number where people can submit their complaints, while the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office can be contacted through the number 081236956667.
Socialization and education
The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry responded to the emergence of problematic foreigners, not by limiting the number of visitors but rather by emphasizing educational efforts.
The Bali provincial government and the Immigration Office have outlined a set of norms for visitors that contains 12 obligations and eight prohibitions while on vacation in Bali.
The government also urged alcohol beverage sellers to help educate foreigners to exercise control while drinking.
Several problematic foreigners have yet to be legally processed, but even so, it is time for Bali to focus on quality tourists rather than quantity.
Quality means the tourists stay longer and spend more while simultaneously obeying the law and respecting the local customs.
Thus, it offers a sense of comfort and security not only to tourists but also to the community and the image of Bali tourism itself.
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Translator: Dewa W, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
