Denpasar – The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) has raised concerns about foreign tourists engaging in illegal work in Bali, an issue that significantly impacts local residents.

Nia Niscaya, Expert Advisor at Kemenparekraf, highlighted the potential job losses for locals due to these illegal activities. She stressed the importance of legal awareness, citing the idiom “Ignorantia juris non excusat” (ignorance of the law excuses not).

“If foreign tourists claim ignorance, it won’t be accepted because this principle applies,” she stated at the WBSU event on Monday (5/8/2024).

Niscaya urged for immediate action against such tourists and expressed hopes that these practices would not recur in the future.

“We welcome tourists, but we expect them to respect local norms and be of high quality,” she added.

Tjok Bagus Pemayun, Head of Bali’s Tourism Office, acknowledged both the positive and negative impacts of the rising number of international visitors. While the economy has improved, some foreign tourists have caused problems.

“We’ve noted these issues since Bali reopened without quarantine on March 7, 2022. Misbehaving tourists often act inappropriately at sacred sites, drive recklessly, assault locals, rob convenience stores, refuse to pay, and conduct unauthorized businesses in Bali,” he said.

Pemayun detailed various illegal professions undertaken by foreign tourists in Bali, such as land brokers, motorcycle rental services, photo models, business agents, and website developers. He also shared data from the Bali Police for January-June 2024, showing 45 cases where foreign tourists were victims of crime, mostly thefts, and six traffic accidents involving tourists. Additionally, there were 38 cases of foreign tourists committing crimes, mainly assault, traffic violations, and fraud.

“From January to July 2024, 247 foreign tourists have been deported. We enforce laws based on the violations committed,” he concluded.