Sandiaga Uno Will Moratorium On Hotel Construction And Stop Agricultural Conversion

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno (Photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno is working on a moratorium policy to build hotels and stop the conversion of agricultural land into commercial ones. This is to maintain the quality of tourism in a number of Indonesian tourist destinations, including in the South Bali region.

"The policies that will soon be completed by the government see the potential for density that makes the situation unsafe and comfortable, especially in several destinations in Indonesia," Sandiaga said quoting Antara.

He added that the policy also concerns tourism accommodation facilities that do not have a sustainable aspect.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy has not provided detailed details regarding the draft policy because it is being discussed.

However, he ensured that the draft policy would be completed in the next few days to be discussed at a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo.

"Together with the President to be decided as a concrete step to ensure quality Indonesian tourism can open up business opportunities and employment opportunities," he added.

He emphasized that later the policy would be implemented in certain tourist destinations which were considered already congested and caused saturation.

He also plans to dissect certain points in the South Bali area, namely in Denpasar City, Badung Regency, Gianyar Regency and Tabanan Regency (Sarbagita).

Sarbagita yang akan kami fokuskan tapi tentunya harus beroperasi lagi karena tidak seluruh Bali selatan ini sama, mungkin Badung berbeda sama Tabanan, nanti akan kami formulasikan," imbuhnya.

Sandiaga also explained that the policy was not contradictory to the target of foreign tourist visits, which increased every year, by 2024 it reached 14 million.

He will also conduct an evaluation every three to six months if the policy is implemented.

"This brake gas is if you see the impact is too heavy, we have to brake. But if we need the economy to move, we will gas," he said.

Based on data from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), the total number of hotels and accommodation that have been classified throughout Indonesia has reached 29,005 units and 747,066 rooms.

The number of AirBnb or accommodation businesses in Indonesia reaches more than 61 thousand units, of which around 34 thousand units are in Bali.