Bali's Honor Must Be Protected From The Behavior Of Foreign Tourists

The number of foreign tourist visits to Bali continues to increase. (Between/Nyoman Budhiana)

JAKARTA Bali tourism has stretched again after the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of foreign tourist visits in the period January to April 2023 increased dramatically to reach 1,437,730 visits. Up 1,835 percent from the same period the previous year according to a report by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

This condition certainly has an increasingly positive effect on Bali's economic growth, which has continued to increase since the fourth quarter of 2022 until it reaches 6.11 percent on an annual basis. But on the other hand, the increase in the number of foreign tourists also raises problems.

The behavior of a number of foreign tourists who do not respect the customs and laws that apply in Bali is in the spotlight. In February 2023, a foreign citizen (WNA) from England caused trouble when he was drunk and did not want to pay for the food he ate at a bar in the Kuta area.

Police officers then detained him in the detention cell of the Kuta Police. Instead of apologizing and obeying the rules, the foreigner attacked the police officer until he fainted.

In March 2023, a foreigner shouted at the police when he was ticketed for reckless driving and without wearing a helmet. The incident that occurred in the Ubud area had gone viral and provoked the anger of the Indonesian people on social media.

Most recently, the behavior of a foreigner woman who appeared naked in public. The woman who is known to be from Germany suddenly went on stage when the dance performance was taking place.

Businessmen and politicians from Bali Niluh Djelantik asked officers to take firm steps to overcome the behavior of foreign tourists who are already very disturbing. If necessary, put it on the blacklist so that tourists who have been causing trouble in Bali cannot visit again.

"Immediately apply THE DO AND DON'T FOR TOURIST. Tourism is to improve the quality of people's lives at the same time we must be firm with the destroyers," Niluh said through his social media account on May 24, 2023.

"Bali is the largest foreign exchange contributor in the tourism sector. Take care of Bali's honor, O policy holders," he wrote again.

Not only about behavior, there are also many foreign tourists who take advantage of their visits to Bali to earn income illegally. The results of the Kompas Daily investigation found foreigners who seek income by becoming photographers, models, and opening motor vehicle rental businesses.

A French citizen offers services as a photographer for art models or photos in Bali. He set a price of IDR 3-10 million for one photo shoot session. However, the ownership of the permit is only a KITAS investment.

KITAS is a limited stay permit that is valid for 6-12 months. KITAS invests, said the Head of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office, Anggiat Napitupulu, not for work permits in Indonesian territory.

"Investment KITAS holders can only invest in certain businesses, not carry out jobs and receive wages," he said during the exclusive webinar Kompas Editors Talks entitled 'Alert Foreigners Illegal Workers During the Holiday Period in Bali' on June 6, 2023.

Then, it was also found that female Irish nationals worked as a model at a rate of Rp. 1.5-2 million for an hour of photo shoot. In fact, she only has a B211A visit visa as a tourist that should be prohibited from carrying out economic activities.

Also, a Russian citizen who runs a motorcycle rental business. This Russian man is known to be in charge of serving and delivering motorbikes to tenants.

"He only has Visa on Arrival with a validity period of 30 days," said Deputy Head of the Kompas Daily Data Investigation and Journalism Desk Harry Susilo in his presentation on the same occasion.

They all promote their business and services through social media. French citizens who become photographers, for example, are looking for clients via Facebook by sending private messages to potential consumer accounts, not openly. He will also reject the photo shoot offer in public spaces.

Anggiat Napitupulu did not deny the results of the investigation. From the results of his search, foreigners who became tennis coaches or dance coaches were also found.

However, if it has violated the rules, it will act decisively. During the January-April 2023 period alone, 101 foreigners were deported for violating immigration permits, exceeding stay, and other legal violations such as violations of norms. Based on the records of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the majority of those deported came from Russia. There are also from several other countries such as the UK, the United States, Nigeria, and Australia.

As for foreign workers, Anggiat continued, the state cannot prohibit foreigners from earning income in Indonesia in the current globalization era. The Ministry of Manpower through the Minister of Manpower Number 228 of 2019 concerning Certain Positions that can be occupied by foreign workers has also regulated any positions that can be occupied by foreign workers.

Even so, the conditions must be met first. To be able to work, foreigners need a C312 work visa that can be submitted through the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower's online foreign workers website.

After the employment file is issued by the Ministry of Manpower, there will be a notification for submitting a visa application to the Immigration Management Information System (SIMKIM), uploading visa requirements documents on the online TKA website.

In accordance with Article 32 of the Minister of Law and Human Rights No.29 of 2021 concerning Visas and Stay Permits, the application must attach: a guarantee letter from the guarantor who is a employer of foreigners and a valid and valid national passport and proof of having living expenses for himself and/or his family while in Indonesia.

Also, the latest color passages, proof of insurance ownership at insurance companies with Indonesian legal entities, and recommendation letters from authorized agencies in charge of employment or other relevant agencies.

The application for a limited stay visa as referred to is also used as a request for a limited residence permit in the context of work.

"Within 30 days, the permit must be converted to an immigration office where it is domiciled into a limited residence permit. Furthermore, it is permissible to carry out work legally, in accordance with the position determined by the Ministry of Manpower regulations," explained Anggiat.

Supervision of foreigners in Indonesia must indeed be maximized. Of course, synergy is needed with other agencies, including the community. Anggiat believes that if all stakeholders can equalize their views, supervision will be more effective.

This is because there are many agencies that supervise foreigners, from the Ministry of Manpower, local governments, the police, to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

The business of foreign workers (Foreign Workers) has entered the realm of the Ministry of Manpower. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights itself only supervises foreigners, not foreign workers. The trick is through administrative supervision through complete documents and others, then field checks. So, foreigners who are the objects of supervision are very pluralistic," he explained.

Immigration Bali noted that the crossing data for foreigners using Visa on Arrival (VoA) and e-VoA facilities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport reached 1,164,042 people. Meanwhile, there are 31,038 holders of Limited Stay Permits (ITAS), 13,990 Visit Stay Permits, and 4,821 Stay Permits.

For sea routes, Bali Immigration also noted that 37,264 people entered through the Benoa Denpasar Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) and 74 people who passed through TPI Padang Bai in Karangasem Regency and Celukan Bawang in Buleleng Regency.

If you only rely on government agencies, you can't. We also ask the public to actively report any violations committed by foreigners. We will protect all the identity of the reporter," Anggiat added.