Latest news with #Koster
BusinessToday
05-08-2025
- Politics
- BusinessToday
Bali Deploys Immigration Task Force To Monitor Foreign Tourists' Behaviour
Bali Governor believes that the immigration patrol task force, inaugurated on Tuesday, will help deter misconduct by foreign nationals during their stay in the region. 'This aims to maintain order among foreigners in Bali, as some of them have behaved badly,' he said. He then expressed the hope that their collaboration will help reduce the frequent immigration, legal, and cultural violations by foreigners in Bali. Earlier, in May 2023, Koster issued guidelines for foreign tourists to prevent them from violating Bali's laws and cultural regulations. The guide covers the dos and don'ts listed in the Bali Governor's Circular Letter Number 4 of 2023 on New Orders for Foreign Tourists While in Bali. Bali has three Immigration offices, including the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, which covers Kuta, North Kuta, and South Kuta. Next, the Denpasar Immigration Office covers Denpasar city; the northern part of Badung district, comprising the sub-districts of Abiansemal, Mengwi, and Petang; as well as Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, and Tabanan districts. The Singaraja Immigration Office covers Buleleng, Jembrana, and Karangasem Districts. According to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, it deported 148 foreign nationals in the period from January to July 24, 2025. Most of the cases—66 in total—involved foreign nationals overstaying their visas. Immigration has established a patrol task force that will target foreign nationals suspected to be violating immigration rules at several tourist spots in Bali. The task force will operate from August 1 to August 31, and its term could potentially be extended.
Euronews
02-07-2025
- Euronews
Bali cracks down on ‘naughty' tourists with strict new rules
Bali authorities are pushing for much harsher penalties for tourists who break the law. Komang Nova Sewi Putra, deputy chairman of the island's legislative council, has called for the deportation of foreign nationals who commit crimes, the South China Morning Post reported. "If we were abroad and got into a fight, we would immediately be deported. Why isn't this enforced in Bali? Once caught, deport them. This will make Bali safer," Putra told the paper. The most common offences committed by tourists are theft, traffic violations, and abuse of residence permits for business purposes, according to Bali's legislative council. The proposal comes after Bali introduced a series of new guidelines for tourists in a bid to clamp down on inappropriate behaviour. Authorities say the strict measures aim to safeguard the Indonesian island's cultural integrity and sacred sites. The rules cover clothing and behaviour when visiting temples and religious complexes, including prohibiting menstruating women from entering. The mayor has warned that some transgressions could be met with legal consequences under Indonesian law. New guidelines to regulate foreign tourists while in Bali The new regulations were issued by Bali governor I Wayan Koster on 24 March. 'We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change, we need to adapt. This ensures that Bali's tourism remains respectful, sustainable, and in harmony with our local values,' Koster said. The guidelines focus on ensuring respectful behaviour when visiting sacred sites and enforcing the payment of Bali's tourist levy. They also oblige tourists to use licensed guides and accommodation, follow traffic laws and exchange currency at authorised outlets. 'I am implementing this circular as an immediate measure to regulate foreign tourists while they are in Bali,' Koster added. New rules ban inappropriate photos and single-use plastics The new rules require tourists to wear modest and respectful clothing and to 'behave respectfully whether at religious sites, restaurants, shopping areas, or public roads'. Visitors are banned from swearing, causing disturbances, or being rude to locals, officials, or fellow tourists. The mayor also said that 'sharing hate speech or misinformation on social media is also prohibited'. Other outlawed activities include entering sacred temple areas without permission, littering, and working without permits. Single-use plastics, including plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic-packaged drinks, are also banned. Under the new guidelines, foreign tourists 'should observe and honour Balinese customs, traditions, and cultural practices, especially during ceremonies' and 'dress appropriately when visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces'. In addition, foreign visitors are not permitted to 'enter sacred temple areas unless they are worshippers wearing traditional Balinese attire'. The directive adds that 'menstruating women are also prohibited from entering these areas'. Tourists are also not allowed to climb sacred trees or monuments or take inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites. Tourists who fail to pay visitor levy face legal consequences Last February, Bali introduced a one-time entry fee of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (€9) for international visitors to fund conservation efforts. As part of the new guidelines, 'tourists who fail to pay the tourist levy will be denied access to attractions, and those caught violating the regulations will face legal consequences in accordance with Indonesian law'. Recently, Balinese officials floated a daily tourist tax similar to the $100 (€95) Sustainable Development Fee that Bhutan charges most international visitors. 'We expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them' The directive comes just a few days before Nyepi - a sacred holiday known as the day of silence - on 29 March. The festival sees the island come to a standstill for 24 hours, requiring everyone, including tourists, to stay indoors. 'We have prepared a special team to conduct an operation. Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly,' Koster was quoted as saying by local newspaper The Bali Sun. He added that the island's civil service police unit will be monitoring tourist behaviour and ensuring compliance with the new regulations. 'Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them,' Koster said.
Straits Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Bali to clamp down on illegal foreign-owned businesses
All travel agencies, including those owned by foreigners, will need to join the local tourism association to ensure better management and oversight. PHOTO: EPA-EFE JAKARTA - Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has formed a special task force to crack down on illegal foreign-owned businesses, following widespread permit violations by foreign investors that are believed to be harming the local economy. According to Mr Koster, the team will consist of local stakeholders and tourism associations and will be tasked with thoroughly auditing tourism business permits in Bali. 'I will also issue a circular that will serve as a legal basis for the Bali Public Order Agency and the Bali Police to take action against businesses that violate their permits,' Mr Koster said on June 1, as reported by Antara. He will also require all travel agencies, including those owned by foreigners, to join the local tourism association to ensure better management and oversight. Mr Koster said the crackdown was essential to protect Bali from 'economic, social and tourism setbacks', arguing that illegal foreign businesses might exacerbate the wealth gap on the island and accelerate the deterioration of the local economy. 'There are numerous challenges facing tourism in Bali, such as traffic congestion, mounting waste issues, illegal villas and rowdy tourists. 'While we are committed to addressing these problems, the root causes must be tackled upstream through stronger regulations and stricter permit enforcement,' he said. Mr Koster stated that in recent years, he has received numerous complaints about an increasing number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) i n Bali being operated or controlled by foreign nationals. According to existing regulations, foreign investment businesses must have a minimum capital of 10 billion rupiah (S$791,000) excluding the value of land and buildings, an amount that exceeds the capital of MSMEs. Any investment below that threshold is strictly reserved for domestic direct investment. However, Mr Koster said many foreign investors have been exploiting loopholes in the government's Online Single Submission (OSS) system for business licensing, allowing them to dominate strategic sectors in Bali's tourism industry, even at the micro level. The government launched the OSS system in 2018 to streamline and simplify the business licensing process, allowing business owners to apply for permits through a single integrated online platform instead of navigating multiple state institutions. However, oversight of the system has been relatively lax, leading to various violations in the field. For example, there have been numerous reports of foreign nationals using the identities of local Bali residents to register their MSMEs through the OSS system. Mr Koster revealed that more than 400 car rental and tour businesses in Badung Regency, a major tourism hub in Bali, are owned by foreign nationals. 'Most of these businesses don't even have a physical office in Bali, and their owners are not based here. This is unacceptable. Bali cannot be treated as a free trade zone at the expense of its own people,' he said. In November 2024, National Economic Council chairman Luhut Pandjaitan stated that President Prabowo Subianto had instructed his aides to closely monitor foreign companies operating in Bali and to implement stricter regulations. 'Violations of business permits by foreign investors are a serious problem that have created unfair competition and significantly harmed local businesses,' he said. Overtourism and overdevelopment have become serious issues in Bali as tourism returns to the island following the Covid-19 pandemic. Reports of rowdy tourists violating local customs and unlicensed businesses competing unfairly with locals have become increasingly common in recent years. Earlier in June, the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association reported an approximate 20 per cent decrease in hotel occupancy rates, despite the rising number of tourists visiting the island. The association attributed this trend to travelers increasingly choosing 'illegal accommodations', such as unlicensed luxury kos-kosan (boarding houses) and villas. In January and February, Indonesian immigration authorities detained 312 foreign nationals in Bali for visa violations related to problematic foreign investments. A few months earlier, the authorities revoked the business permits of 267 foreign companies for failing to meet the 10 billion rupiah capital requirement. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Bali to clamp down on illegal foreign-owned businesses
DENPASAR: Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has formed a special task force to crack down on illegal foreign-owned businesses, following widespread permit violations by foreign investors that are believed to be harming the local economy. According to Koster, the team will consist of local stakeholders and tourism associations and will be tasked with thoroughly auditing tourism business permits in Bali. "I will also issue a circular that will serve as a legal basis for the Bali Public Order Agency [Satpol PP] and the Bali Police to take action against businesses that violate their permits," Koster said on Sunday (June 1), as reported by Antara. He will also require all travel agencies, including those owned by foreigners, to join the local tourism association to ensure better management and oversight. Koster said the crackdown was essential to protect Bali from 'economic, social and tourism setbacks', arguing that illegal foreign businesses might exacerbate the wealth gap on the island and accelerate the deterioration of the local economy. 'There are numerous challenges facing tourism in Bali, such as traffic congestion, mounting waste issues, illegal villas and rowdy tourists. While we are committed to addressing these problems, the root causes must be tackled upstream through stronger regulations and stricter permit enforcement,' he said. Koster stated that in recent years, he has received numerous complaints about an increasing number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bali being operated or controlled by foreign nationals. According to existing regulations, foreign investment (PMA) businesses must have a minimum capital of Rp 10 billion (US$613,000), excluding the value of land and buildings, an amount that exceeds the capital of MSMEs. Any investment below that threshold is strictly reserved for domestic direct investment (PMDN). However, Koster said many foreign investors have been exploiting loopholes in the government's Online Single Submission (OSS) system for business licensing, allowing them to dominate strategic sectors in Bali's tourism industry, even at the micro level. The government launched the OSS system in 2018 to streamline and simplify the business licensing process, allowing business owners to apply for permits through a single integrated online platform instead of navigating multiple state institutions. However, oversight of the system has been relatively lax, leading to various violations in the field. For example, there have been numerous reports of foreign nationals using the identities of local Bali residents to register their MSMEs through the OSS system. Governor Koster revealed that more than 400 car rental and tour businesses in Badung Regency, a major tourism hub in Bali, are owned by foreign nationals. 'Most of these businesses don't even have a physical office in Bali, and their owners are not based here. This is unacceptable. Bali cannot be treated as a free trade zone at the expense of its own people,' he said. In November, National Economic Council (DEN) chairman Luhut Pandjaitan stated that President Prabowo Subianto had instructed his aides to closely monitor foreign companies operating in Bali and to implement stricter regulations. "Violations of business permits by foreign investors are a serious problem that have created unfair competition and significantly harmed local businesses,' he said. Overtourism and overdevelopment have become serious issues in Bali as tourism returns to the island following the Covid-19 pandemic. Reports of rowdy tourists violating local customs and unlicensed businesses competing unfairly with locals have become increasingly common in recent years. Earlier this month, the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) reported an approximate 20 per cent decrease in hotel occupancy rates, despite the rising number of tourists visiting the island. The association attributed this trend to travelers increasingly choosing 'illegal accommodations', such as unlicensed luxury kos-kosan (boarding houses) and villas. In January and February, Indonesian immigration authorities detained 312 foreign nationals in Bali for visa violations related to problematic foreign investments. A few months earlier, authorities revoked the business permits of 267 foreign companies for failing to meet the Rp 10 billion capital requirement. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Straits Times
31-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Bali to ban production of bottled water under 1 litre
The ban is set to take effect in January 2026. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH BALI - Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has announced plans to ban the production of water bottles smaller than 1 litre, in an effort to address the island's growing waste problem, which has been linked to several environmental disasters. On May 29, Mr Koster summoned bottled water producers to a meeting in Denpasar to announce a new policy banning the production of water bottles smaller than 1 litre, which is set to take effect in January 2026. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
