Bali eyes ‘quality’ tourism as island lures talented nomads, health buffs after turning sour on unruly visitors
- The Indonesian island is planning to build high-end wellness clinics and limit the entry of the undesirables and attract the ones that tend to spend more and behave well
- Bali has deported 136 foreigners since the start of the year for various misconduct including indecent exposure and rule breaking
The local government has deported 136 foreigners since the start of the year for various misconduct including indecent exposure, rowdy behaviour and rule breaking, according to the Bali immigration office.
The incidents left Bali Governor I Wayan Koster with a dilemma; to either keep on accepting all tourists or be more discriminating while risking the island’s nascent recovery. Then there’s another option: reinvent the island into a health hub and research centre.
Danish woman faces 10-year jail term for filming adult video in Bali
Indonesia is looking to partner with Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic to build a medical centre in Sanur, a quiet town on the eastern coast, that will also feature luxury hotels and care facilities for seniors. In Serangan, Bali will develop a research hub to join Tsinghua University’s Southeast Asia Centre, according to the coordinating ministry for economic affairs.
Like neighbouring travel destinations, the tourism-reliant island was devastated by the pandemic as many hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops closed. While overseas visitors rebounded to 2.16 million last year, from less than 60 in 2021, it’s still just a third of the more than 6 million who came in 2019.
As foreign guests return, Koster is seeking a new tourism blueprint that will limit the entry of the undesirables and attract the ones that tend to spend more, energise the local economy and behave well.
02:17
Bali plans to end visas-on-arrival for Russian and Ukrainian tourists after series of violations
“Tourism remains a mainstay, but it will be in a much different position than before,” Koster said in an interview. “This push will encourage the transformation of Bali, from mass tourism to quality tourism.”
Bali is rolling out the red carpet for potential investors, offering tax breaks as well as easier employment rules and licensing, to deliver 477 trillion rupiah (US$32 billion) of foreign currency earnings through 2052. A recently passed law grants the island more autonomy to let Koster plan out its economic development.
Misbehaving tourists won’t find the same welcome. Bali is considering imposing an entry tax and a quota for visitors, while banning them from climbing mountains, touching sacred trees or renting motorbikes.
Bali issues dos and don’ts list for tourists after spate of shocking scandals
The island is now requiring licensed tour guides to accompany foreigners that are expected to wear modest clothing and abide by the rules.
Foreigners skilled in digital, health, research and technology sectors could qualify for “golden visas” that allow them to own assets and fast track citizenship. Guests with the equivalent of at least 2 billion rupiah in their bank accounts could get a “second home” visa to stay for up to 10 years.
“Many countries have issued golden visas because they provide many benefits by increasing investment.” said Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno on Monday. The rules on the long stay visas will be issued soon, he added.
