Canggu Weekly No 327 May 2023

CANGGUWEEKLY

No.327/12May-19May2023

numberofforeigntouristswhovisitBalieach year,withthequotatobedeterminedbythe Governor'steam.Thequotawillbewithinthe masstourismsystemandissettobeinplace forthenext100years.Thisisasignifcant steptowardsensuringthatBalicancontinue tomaintainitsculturalheritageandnatural beautyforgenerationstocome.

createasustainableandrespectfultourism industrythatbeneftsbothtouristsand locals.

Inrecentyears,Balihasbecomean increasinglypopulardestinationfortourists fromallovertheworld,withitspicturesque landscapes,stunningbeaches,andunique culture.However,withtheinfuxoftourists, therehasalsobeenariseinreportsof inappropriatebehavior,disrespectforlocal customsandtraditions,andenvironmental damage.Toaddresstheseissuesand preservetheculturalidentityoftheprovince, theProvincialGovernmentofBalihastaken theboldstepofimplementingaquota systemforforeigntourists.

Thequotasystemisaimedatlimitingthe

Thequotasystemisalsodesignedtoprevent problematicforeigntouristsfromarrivingin Indonesia,suchasthosewhoseek employmentinBaliorattempttoopena businesswithatouristvisa.Thegovernment hopesthatbylimitingthenumberoftourists andensuringthatonlythosewithgenuine intentionsareallowedtovisit,Baliwillbeable toprotectitsuniquecultureandwayoflife.

Todeterminethenumbersforthequota,the ProvincialGovernmentofBaliwillbe negotiatingwithrelevantstakeholders,taking intoconsiderationenvironmental sustainability,infrastructure,andthecarrying capacityoftheisland.Itisadelicatebalance, astourismisamajorsourceofincomeforthe province,butthegovernmentisdeterminedto

Fortouristswhoareinterestedinvisiting Baliinthefuture,itisadvisedthattheyget onthelistearlytosecureaspotwithinthe quotasystem.Thiswillgivethemample timetoplantheirtrip,learnaboutthelocal cultureandcustoms,andensurethatthey arerespectfulvisitors.

Inconclusion,theimplementationofa quotasystemforforeigntouristsisabold movebytheProvincialGovernmentofBali toprotectitsculturalidentityandnatural beauty.Whileitmayimpactthetourism industryintheshortterm,itishopedthat thispolicywillcreateamoresustainable andrespectfultourismindustryinBaliin thelongterm.Thegovernment'sfocuson environmentalsustainabilityand responsibletourismisastepintheright directiontowardspreservingBali'sunique wayoflifeforfuturegenerations.

"ProvincialGovernmentofBaliImplementsQuotaSystemtoProtectCulturalIdentity andNaturalBeautyfromMisbehavingTourists"

ThearrestoftwoChinesetouristsinBalifor usingastolencreditcardhasonceagain highlightedtheissueofmisbehavingtourists andtheirimpactontheisland'sreputation. TheincidentoccurredatNgurahRai InternationalAirport,wherethesuspects wereapprehendedbytheauthorities.

Accordingtoreports,thecreditcardwas stolenfromaChinesestudentwhohad recentlyarrivedinBali.Uponrealizingthat thecardwasmissing,thestudentcontacted hisparentstoblockthecard,onlytofndout thatithadalreadybeenusedina transaction.Furtherinvestigationledtothe identifcationofthesuspects,whohad

purchasedexpensiveitemsusingthestolen card.

Thesuspects,identifedasWYandHC,have beenchargedwiththeftandforgeryunder Indonesianlawandmayfaceimprisonment foruptosixyearsiffoundguilty.Thisincident servesasawarningtoothertouristswho maybetemptedtoengageinillegalactivities whileonholidayinBali.

Whiletheincidentisconcerning,itis importanttonotethatitisnotrepresentative ofallChinesetouristsvisitingBali.Thevast majorityofChinesetouristsarerespectful visitorswhocometoenjoytheisland's naturalbeautyanduniqueculture.However, therehavebeeninstancesofmisbehaviorin thepast,suchaslittering,disrespectforlocal customsandtraditions,andevenincidentsof vandalism.

Toaddresstheseissues,theProvincial GovernmentofBalihastakenstepsto promoteresponsibletourismandprotectthe island'sculturalheritage.Thisincludes

implementingaquotasystemforforeign touriststolimitthenumberofvisitorstothe islandandpreventproblematictourists fromarriving.

Thegovernmenthasalsolaunched variousinitiativestopromote environmentalsustainabilityand responsibletourismpractices,suchasthe "CleanBali"campaign,whichaimsto reduceplasticwasteandpreservethe island'snaturalbeauty.

Inconclusion,thearrestoftwoChinese touristsinBaliforusingastolencreditcard highlightstheneedforresponsibletourism practicesandrespectforlocallawsand customs.Whilethevastmajorityoftourists arerespectfulvisitors,incidentslikethese candamageBali'sreputationandimpact theisland'stourismindustry.The government'sfocusonpromoting responsibletourismpracticesand protectingtheisland'sculturalheritageisa stepintherightdirectiontowardscreating asustainableandrespectfultourism industryinBali.

"ChineseTouristsArrestedforCreditCardFraudinBali:HighlightingtheNeedforResponsible TourismPracticesandCulturalRespect"

The45theditionofTheBaliArtsFestival (PKBXLV),amonth-longeventfrom18 Juneuntil16July2023,willfeaturethe talentsofthousandsofBalineseand internationalartists,followedbytheFestival BaliJani(FSBJ)thatwillrununtil30July 2023.

DuringapressconferenceheldonFriday, 03May2023,attheProvincialCultural Offce(DinasKebudayaan–Disbud),the ProvincialheadofArtsandCultural Workers–NiWayanSulastriani,said,“The contentsofthePKBXLVwillbemuchlikein year’spastbutwithdifferentpresentations.”

ThethemeadoptedforthePKBXLVis “SegaraKerthi:PrabhanekaSandhi”(The OceansastheSourceofCivilization)will celebratetheseasandoceansasthe sourceofuniversalwelfareandtheoriginof civilizedsociety.Theoceanssymbolizeour collectiveknowledge,thedepthofnobility fromthenobledemeanor,culturalidentity, andlocalknowledgeoftheBalinesepeople (KramaBali).

Roads

Theoceansymbolizesthebreadthof knowledgeandthedepthofnoblevalues actingastheestuarywherevarious creations,tastes,andhumaninitiativesare combined,givingbirthtoarichculture representingthenobleandsuperior civilizationofKramaBali.

TheoceanssurroundingtheIslandofBali symbolizealocalopennesstotheworldand anindigenousreadinesstounderstandand harmoniouslyacceptforeigncultures. BecauseofBali’sstrongendemiccultureand thisopennesstoworldculture,theIslandis theCenterofWorldCivilization(BaliPadma Bhuana).

ThemanyprogramsofPKBXLVare conductedatTheTamanBudayaArtCenter Denpasar,theISIDenpasarCampus,and thePeople’sStruggleMonument.Whilein thepast,thepresidingPresidentofIndonesia traditionallyoffciatesattheoffcialopening ofthePKB,plansin2023areforthe5th PresidentoftheRepublicofIndonesia, MegawatiSoekarnoputri,toopentheevent andserveasmarshalofthePeedAya–Pawai(Grandopeningparade)andattend theopeningperformanceattheArdha CandraDenpasarStage.

Thisyear’sGrandOpeningParadewill featureperformersfromtheIndonesianArts Institute(ISI)andcontingentsfromthenine regenciesofBalipresentingculturaldisplays refectingthethemeofthisyear’sfestival.Art

groupsfrom14citiesandprovincesacross Indonesiawillparticipateinthisyear’sBali ArtsFestival.Amongtheouterisland representativesbookedtoparticipateare Jakarta,Yogyakarta,Sleman,Bekasi,East Kalimantan,andEastNusaTenggara (NTT).

Culinaryandhandicraftstandswillbein operationduringthefestivalatTaman Budaya.75-80artistswillexhibittheir worksrefectingseveralschoolsofart: Kamasan,Batuan,andPadangtegal.The ProvincialGovernmentwillbestowawards andtrophiesto10seniorBalineseartists duringtheevent.

WithintheBaliArtsFestivalcontext,the BaliWorldCultureCelebrationwillinclude foreignartistsfromJapan,Thailand, Australia,Belgium,India,Malaysia,and China.Inall,18,794artistsareexpectedto participateinPKB2023.

Meanwhile,the5thFestivalBaliJani2023 (FSBJ)alsoembracesasealinkviathe themeof“CittaRasmiSegaraKerthi, BahariSumberInspirasi,”drawing inspirationfromtheoceans.Activities includecompetitions,exhibitions,parades, seminars,workshops,andanawards program.FSBJCuratorannouncedthat therewouldalsobeplays,animatedflms, choralcompetitions,andstand-upcomedy events.

FormerIndonesianPresidentMegawatiCallsforMoratoriumonBaliHotelConstruction

quieterandsimplerduringherchildhood. Shelamentedtheincreasingpaceof constructionandurgedBaliGovernorWayan Kostertostopgrantinglicensesfornewhotel construction.Thiscallforamoratoriumon newhotelconstructionisarenewalofa widespreadcallthatfrstemergedinthe 1990s.

FormerIndonesianPresidentand ChairpersonoftheIndonesianDemocratic PartyofStruggle(PDIP)Megawati Soekarnoputrihascalledforamoratorium onnewhotelconstructioninBaliduringa seminarfocusedontheisland's developmentinthenextcentury.The seminar,whichtookplaceonMay5,2023, aimedtodiscussplansforBali's developmentoverthenext100years,with Megawatiasthekeynotespeaker.During herspeech,shesharedmemoriesofvisiting BaliwithherfatherandthefrstPresidentof Indonesia,Soekarno,whenshewasachild, around1954.

Megawatiexpressedherconcernaboutthe rapiddevelopmentofhotelsandcafesin Bali,sayingthattheislandwasmuch

Duringherspeech,Megawatialso complainedaboutthelackoflargehotels ownedbynative-bornBalinese.Sheshared storiesoftheoutrageousbehaviorofforeign visitorsandurgedGovernorKostertoenact legislationtoprotectBali'spreciousculture andhalttheruinoftheisland.

MegawatihasaspecialconnectionwithBali basedonherancestry,whichincludesa BalinesegrandmotherfromSingaraja,North Bali.ShealsosoughtGovernorKoster's agreementtohalttheconversionof agriculturalandforestedlandsinto commercialandresidentialdevelopments.

Followingtheseminar,GovernorKoster agreedtohalttherepurposingoflanduse,as perMegawati'srequest.Healsopledgedto enactlegislationtolimitthenumberof internationaltouristsallowedtovisitBalieach

year.

Theseminar'sfocusonBali'sdevelopment overthenext100yearsindicatesa growingawarenessoftheneedfor sustainabledevelopmentintheregion.As Balicontinuestoattractincreasing numbersoftouristseachyear,itis essentialtoprioritizethepreservationofits culturalandenvironmentalheritagefor futuregenerations.Megawati'scallfora moratoriumonnewhotelconstructionand landconversionisastepintheright directiontowardsachievingsustainable developmentinBali.

TheannouncementthatBali's administrationplanstostepupenforcement oftherequirementforforeigntouriststo haveavalidinternationaldrivinglicenseif theywanttorentamotorbikeontheisland isasignifcantdevelopmentintheongoing effortstopromoteresponsibletourism practicesandimproveroadsafety.

Theissueoftouristsdrivingrecklesslyand disrespectinglocalcultureisnotanewone inBali.Theislandhaslongbeenknownfor itsrelaxedattitudetowardstherule requiringadriver'slicensetorenta motorbike,withmanylawenforcement offcialsturningablindeyetoforeigners whorentbikeswithoutalicense.However, thisleniencyhasledtonumerousincidents oftouristsdrivingdangerously,including withoutahelmet,shirtless,andinastateof inebriation.Inmanycases,thesetourists havealsobeencaughtoncamera,with theirbehaviorgoingviralonsocialmedia, leadingtooutrageamonglocalsandcalls foractionbytheauthorities.

TheheadofBali'sTransportationAgency, SamsiGunarta,announcedtheplanto enforcetherulerequiringavalidinternational drivinglicenseforforeigntouristsrenting motorbikesduringaconferenceinNusaDua. AccordingtoGunarta,themeasureis intendedtosuppressthenumberofforeign touristswhodriverecklesslyanddisrespect localculture.Hecitedvideosshowing foreignersfoutingtraffcrulesandwearing bikiniswhiledrivingrentedmotorbikesas examplesofthekindofbehaviorthatthe administrationisseekingtoprevent.

Whiletherulerequiringavalidinternational drivinglicenseforforeigntouristsrenting motorbikeshasbeeninplaceforsometime, enforcementhasbeenlax.However,thisis settochangeastheadministrationseeksto improveroadsafetyandpromoteresponsible tourismpractices.UnderIndonesiantraffc law,drivingwithoutalicenseisanoffense punishablebyuptofourmonthsinprisonor afneofIDR1million(US$67.84).Itis expectedthattheBaliadministrationwill beginimposingpenaltiesonforeigners caughtdrivingwithoutalicenseinthenear future.

GovernorWayanKoster'srecent announcementthatforeigntouristswouldbe bannedfromrentingmotorbikesaltogether causedastir,butnooffcialregulationson

thematterhavebeenpublishedbythe island'sauthorities.Thespecifcsofthe regulationsregardingforeignersrenting motorbikesinBaliarestillunder discussion,withinputbeingsoughtfrom agenciesthatproviderentedmotorbikesto tourists.

Inconclusion,theBaliadministration's movetoenforcetherulerequiringavalid internationaldrivinglicenseforforeign touristsrentingmotorbikesisapositive steptowardspromotingresponsible tourismpracticesandimprovingroad safety.However,theimplementationofthe rulewillrequirethecooperationofall stakeholders,includinglawenforcement offcials,rentalagencies,andtourists themselves.Itishopedthatthenew regulationswillleadtoareductioninthe numberofaccidentsinvolvingforeign touristsandpromoteamorerespectful andresponsibleapproachtotourismin Bali.

AlthoughtheWorldHealthOrganization (WHO)hasliftedtheglobalstatusof COVID-19,Indonesiaisstillgrapplingwith thepandemicandisinastateofhealth emergency.TheIndonesianMinistryof Healthhasstatedthatthetransitionaway fromCOVID-19emergencystatusrestson PresidentJokoWidodo,andtherewillhave tobeanannouncementbythepresidentfor theemergencystatustobelifted.The ministryandhealthexpertswillmakethe appropriaterecommendationstothe nation’sleader.

MohammadSyahril,aministryspokesman,

calledonthepublictoremaincarefuland implementhealthprotocols,while vaccinationdriveswouldstillcontinue, especiallytoprotecthigh-risksegmentsof society.Thisisbecause,eventhough Indonesiaisnolongerinastateofpublic restriction,thecountryhasbeen experiencingaspikeinCOVID-19infections overthepastcoupleofweeks,registering around2,000casesdaily.

TheWHOannouncedonFridaythatitwas removingthePublicHealthEmergencyof InternationalConcern(PHEIC)statusfor COVID-19,citingdecliningcasesanddeaths fromthediseaseformorethanayear,as wellasincreasedpopulationimmunityfrom vaccinationandinfection.Thisisasignifcant milestonefortheworldinthefghtagainst thepandemic.However,theWHOalso stressedthatCOVID-19remainedaserious threattoglobalpublichealth,andurged countriesnottodismantlethepublichealth systemstheyhadbuilttocontainthe

disease.

DespiteIndonesia'scurrentCOVID-19 situation,thecountryhasmadesignifcant stridesincontainingthepandemic.The dailyaverageofaround2,000casesisa farcryfromthepeaksof2022and2021, andtheIndonesiangovernmentcontinues toworkcloselywiththeWHOandother globalhealthorganizationstoensurethat thepandemiciscontainedandcontrolled. AsofMay11,Indonesiahasrecorded 1,700,858casesofCOVID-19,with 46,496deaths.TheIndonesian governmenthasbeenactivelyrollingout vaccinationdrivestothepublic,withmore than23millionpeoplehavingreceivedat leastonedoseofthevaccineasofMay 10.Thecountryistargetingtovaccinate 181.5millionpeoplebynextyear,withthe hopeofachievingherdimmunityandfully containingthepandemic.

IndonesiaStillinCOVID-19EmergencyStatusDespiteWHOLiftingGlobalStatus

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