Provincial Government Ensures No International Standard Casino Construction In Bali

Head Of The Bali Tourism Office (Dispar), Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun/PHOTO: Dafi-VOI

Head of the Bali Tourism Office (Dispar), Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, responded to the proposal for the construction of an international standard gambling place or casino on the island of Bali.

Pemayun said the Bali Provincial Government (Pemprov) ensured that there was no plan to build a casino in Bali, the reason was that Bali was a culture-based tourism.

"What is clear is that we are based on culture. So, the tourism we develop is cultural tourism. It's not a matter of rejection or what this is, point cultural tourism, right," he said, Monday, August 5.

In addition, the Law also prohibits gambling, therefore the proposal to build a casino in Bali cannot be realized.

"It's not possible (to build a casino) because it's the law for gambling (not allowed). Yes, (not allowed)," he said.

Previously, the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) of Bali Province, Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, proposed the construction of an international standard casino on the island of Bali.

He considered that the construction of gambling sites in Bali was very much needed because Bali today had several problems, one of which was for waste management costs in Bali. According to him, with the existence of a casino, it can increase Bali's Regional Original Revenue (PAD), which this year only gets IDR 4 trillion.

"Indeed, now it is very much needed (Business Development). Because PAD (Bali) is around Rp. 4 trillion and there are several problems in Bali. One of them, we need only waste processing of around Rp. 3 trillion to manage the 100 percent waste produced by waste in Bali," said Bagus Pratiksa.

"Not to mention we are trying to reduce the existing waste. So, Bali needs an additional PAD which is quite large in a short enough time so that this idea appears," he added.

According to him, the existence of casinos in Bali, such as in Singapore, has the potential to increase Bali's PAD by around Rp. 12 to Rp. 13 trillion per year.

"If we refer to Singapore, the potential revenue for PAD that Bali will receive can be up to Rp 12 and Rp 13 trillion per year. That is, we haven't talked about hotels, restaurants and also the economy around (kasino) and taxes from employees who work at casinos, of course," he explained.