Canggu Weekly No 331 Jun 2023

CANGGUWEEKLY

No.331/9JunMay-16Jun2023

BaliGovernorUrgentlySeeksRevisionstoTouristVisaPolicy

policymakers,regencyleaders,and reporters,GovernorKosterexpressedhis concernsaboutmaintainingthereputationof Balitourism.Hestatedthatanimmediate meetingwiththeCentralGovernmentwould beheldtoassessthevisa-on-arrivalpolicy andensurethatitdoesnotunderminethe qualityandimageoftourisminBali.

Consequently,twoTourismTaskForces havebeenestablishedtoaddressvisa violationsandtackledisrespectfulbehavior bytourists.

Inthemidstofseveralsignifcanttourism policyannouncementsinBali,Governor Kosterhasrevealedhisplansforanurgent reviewofthetouristvisa-on-arrivalprogram. Thevisa-on-arrival,whichallowstourists from92countriestoexploreIndonesiafor upto30days,hasbeenaccessibleand well-receivedbymany.However,recent incidentsinvolvingmisbehavingtourists havepromptedGovernorKostertoevaluate thevisacategory.

Addressingapressconferenceattendedby

Initially,theGovernorproposedrevokingthe visa-on-arrivalforcitizensofRussiaand Ukraineduetoaninfuxofarrivalsfromthese countries.However,theprovincial governmentisalsoconcernedaboutthe behavioroftouristsfromvariousnationsand theriseofillegalemploymentbyforeignersin Bali.

Whilesomebelievethatstronger enforcementofexistinglawsandregulations wouldbesufcienttoaddresstheissues, GovernorKosterintendstopursuemore comprehensivechanges.

TheIndonesianMinisterforTourismand CreativeEconomies,SandiagaUno,has emphasizedtheneedforathorough investigationbeforeanychangesaremade tothevisa-on-arrivalprogram.Hestated thatthegovernmentisstudyingthe proposalandfurtherdiscussionsare required.

Forthetimebeing,thevisa-on-arrival remainsavailableforcitizensofthe92 designatedcountries,asspecifedbythe IndonesianDepartmentofImmigration. TravelersareremindedtoapplyfortheeVisaonarrivalonlythroughtheofcial website,asrecentlyhighlightedby immigrationofcials.

AreyouplanningtovisitBaliandwondering whatsouvenirstobringbackhome?Here aresomerecommendationsforuniqueand authenticBalisouvenirsthatwillmakeyour memoriesoftheislandlast:

HandmadeBatikClothing:Batikisa traditionalIndonesianfabricknownforits intricatepatternsandvibrantcolors. Chooseabeautifullydesignedbatikshirt, dress,orsarongasafashionableand

culturalkeepsake.

BalineseHandicrafts:Baliisrenownedforits exquisitecraftsmanship.Lookforintricately carvedwoodenmasks,statues,and sculpturesdepictingBalinesedeitiesor mythologicalfgures.Theseartworksare perfectforaddingatouchofBali'sartistic heritagetoyourhome.

SilverJewelry:Baliisahubforskilled silversmithswhocreatestunningjewelry pieces.Fromdelicatenecklacesandearrings tointricateringsandbracelets,Bali'ssilver jewelryrefectstheisland'srichartistic traditions.

TraditionalBalineseMusicalInstruments: BringhometheenchantingmelodiesofBali withtraditionalmusicalinstrumentslikethe gamelan,apercussionensemble,orthe suling,abamboofute.Theseinstruments makeuniqueandculturallysignifcant souvenirs.

LocalCofeeandTea:Baliisknownforits richcofeeandaromaticteas.Takeatasteof theisland'sfavorswithpacksoflocally growncofeebeansorfragrantBalinesetea blends.Theyaresuretopleaseanycofeeor

tealover.

TraditionalBalinesePaintings:Adornyour wallswiththebeautyofBalithrough traditionalBalinesepaintings.These artworksoftendepictscenesfrom Balinesemythology,nature,ordailylife, capturingtheisland'suniquecharm.

TraditionalBatikorIkatFabrics:Batikand ikataretraditionaltextiletechniquesin Indonesia.Lookforbatikorikatfabrics thatcanbeusedforclothing,homedecor, orasauniquetapestry.

TraditionalBalineseSnacks:Indulgeyour tastebudswithlocalBalinesesnackslike crispyfriedtempeh,spicysambalchili sauce,orsweetricecakes.Thesetasty treatsareperfectforsharingapieceof Bali'sculinarydelightswithfriendsand familybackhome.

Remembertosupportlocalartisansand purchasefromreputableshopstoensure you'regettingauthenticproducts.These souvenirswillnotonlyremindyouofyour timeinBalibutalsocontributetothe preservationofBalinesecultureand traditions.Safetravelsandenjoyyour shopping!

"BaliSouvenirRecommendationsforTourists"

NewRegulationsforForeignTouristsinBali

TheGovernorofBali,IWayanKoster, hasreleasedCircularLetterNumber 4of2023,introducingnewguidelines forinternationaltouristsvisitingthe island.

EffectivefromMay31st,2023,the circularaimstoupholdorder,safety, security,andcomfortforeveryonein Bali.Itwasissuedinresponsetothe increasingnumberofviolations committedbyforeigntouristsinthe region.Strictmeasures,including sanctionsandlegalactions,willbe takenagainstthosewhofailto complywiththeseregulationsin accordancewiththeexistinglawsand regulations.

Outlinedbelowaresomeofthe obligationsandprohibitionsspecifed inthecircular:

Rulesregardingplacesofworship: Foreigntouristsarenotpermittedto entersacredareas,suchas pelinggih,exceptforprayerpurposes. Duringprayer,itismandatorytowear Balinesetraditionalattireorprayer garmentsandavoidvisitingduring menstruation.Desecrationofholy places,suchastemples,Pratima, andreligioussymbols,isstrictly forbidden.Examplesincludeclimbing sacredstructures,takingphotographs inimmodestclothingornudity,and climbingsacredtrees.Foreign touristsarealsoexpectedtoshow respectforthesanctityoftemples, Pratima,andreligioussymbolsin Bali.Additionally,theyshouldhonor Balinesecustoms,traditions,arts, culture,andlocalwisdomduring ceremonialprocessions.

Rulesregardingtouristattractions andpublicplaces:

Foreigntouristsmustdressmodestly, appropriately,andrespectfullywhenvisiting sacredsites,touristattractions,andpublic places,aswellasengaginginactivities throughoutBali.Politebehaviorisexpected intouristattractions,restaurants,shopping areas,roads,andotherpublicspaces. Licensedtourguidesarerequiredto accompanyforeigntouristsduringvisitsto touristattractionstoensurean understandingofnaturalconditions, customs,andlocalwisdom.Foreigntourists arerequiredtostayinaccommodationsthat possessthenecessarypermits.Litteringin publicareas,rivers,andseasisstrictly prohibited,andtheuseofsingle-use plasticssuchasStyrofoamandplastic strawsisalsobanned.

Rulesregardingthebusinesssector: Foreigntouristsareprohibitedfromworking

orengaginginbusinessactivitieswithoutthe appropriateoffcialdocumentsissuedbythe competentauthority.Engaginginillegal activitiessuchasthebuyingandsellingof fora,fauna,artifacts,culturalitems,sacred objects,orillegaldrugsisstrictlyprohibited. Foreigntouristsmustexchangeforeign currenciesatlicensedForeignCurrency Exchangeestablishmentsthatdisplaya licensenumberandaQRcodelogofrom BankIndonesia.

Traffcrules:

InadditiontoadheringtoIndonesianlaws andregulations,foreigntouristsmust possessvalidinternationalornationaldriving permitswhenoperatingvehicles.Theyare requiredtodrivecourteouslyandwear helmetswhenridingtwo-wheeledvehicles. Overloadingpassengers,drivingunderthe

infuenceofalcoholorillegaldrugs,and usingpropervehiclesfromauthorized businessentitiesortransportation associationsarestrictly prohibited.

Codeofconduct:

Foreigntouristsareprohibitedfromusing offensivelanguage,behavingimpolitely, causingdisturbances,oracting aggressivelytowardsstateoffcials,the government,fellowtourists,andthelocal community,bothdirectlyandindirectly throughsocialmediaplatforms.The spreadingofhatespeechand disseminationoffalseinformationarealso strictlyforbidden.

BaliIncreasesPolicePresencetoEnhanceTouristSafetyDuringPeakSeason Postedon

Inpreparationfortheupcominghightourist season,Bali'spoliceforcehasrampedup patrolstoensurethesafetyofvisitors. OfcerswillbemorevisibleintheNorth Kutaregion,whichincludespopulartourist areaslikeSeminyakandCanggu, particularlyduringweekendnights. Inresponsetoanapparentincreasein misbehaviorbyforeigntouristsinBali,the policeforceinmajortourismhubsonthe islandhasjoinedforceswiththenewly formedTourismTaskForcestoprioritize publicsafetyandpromoterespectful behavior.

Asthepeakseasonapproaches,Baliis expectingasurgeinholidaymakers,many ofwhomwillheadstraighttotheresorts andentertainmentvenuesofNorthKutato enjoythesunandhaveagreattime. NorthKutaencompassesthebustling stretchofcoastlinefromPetitengetBeach inSeminyaktoBerawaBeachinCanggu, whichiscurrentlythebusiestcoastalarea inBali.

Withitsrenownedresorts,sought-after diningestablishments,andvibrantparty venues,NorthKutaistheplacetobe! Speakingtoreporters,AKBPTeguhPriyo Watson,theHeadofBadungResortPolice, expressedthecommitmentofhisteamto ensurepublicsafetyandmonitorthe behavioroftouristsinthearea.

Hestated,"Yes,togetherwiththeDeputy ChiefofPoliceandtheNorthKutaPolice Head,we,fromtheBadungPolice,are monitoringthesituationatthePetitenget touristdestinationandcheckingour ofcersondutytoensurewearealways

preparedtoassist anyoneinneedofpolice assistance."

Itisimportanttonote thattheincreased patrolsintheareaaim notonlytocrackdown onmisbehavingtourists butprimarilytoprovidea senseofsafetyand securitytothevast majorityoftouristswho abidebytherules.

Unfortunately,duringthehighseason,there isoftenariseincrimesagainsttourists, suchasphonetheft.

WhileBali'scoastalresortsarefarfrom beingasdangerousassomeotherglobal touristdestinations,visitorsareadvisedto remainvigilantandnotmakethemselves vulnerabletoopportunisticcriminalswho maytargetcrowdedtouristareas.

AKBPWasonoadded,"Ourpersonnelis alsotrainedtocommunicatewithtourists. Weareintensivelyfocusingonthisto anticipateundesirableincidents,suchas criminalacts,especiallymuggings." Hementionedthatsincethepatrolshave increased,therehavebeen"nodisruptive activitiesthatthreatensecurityandorderin thePetitengetarea,despitetheprevious highcrimerateinthearea."

ThePoliceChieffurtherstated,"We encouragethecommunitytopromptlyreport anyincidentsthatdisturboursecurityand order,sothatwecantakeappropriate action."

Seminyakiswidelyrecognizedasoneof themostfashionableandstylishtourist destinationsinBali.

Featuringluxuryprivatevillasatafordable rates,asuperbselectionoffnedining restaurants,world-classnightclubs,anda laid-backbeachatmosphere,thearea oferstouristseverythingtheycoulddesire inaholidaydestination.

Must-visitvenueslikeLaFavela,Potato Head,andMariBeachClubcontinueto attractcrowdsandshowcasethevery bestofwhatSeminyakhastoofer. JustofthesunsetstripofSeminyakand PetitengetBeach,touristscanindulgeina widerangeofculinarydelights,drinks, anddancing.

MakesuretoaddMrs.Sippyrestaurant andbeachclub,MotelMexicola,and ManoBeachHousetoyourtravelitinerary astheyareallhighlyrecommended placestovisit!

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