BNEWSID – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has reaffirmed his commitment to creating a stronger and more integrated tourist protection system across all of the island’s destinations. This initiative aims to ensure that visitors, especially foreign tourists, can enjoy their holidays in Bali safely, comfortably, and with a sense of security.

Speaking at the Coordination Meeting on the Regulation and Protection of Tourists and Foreign Nationals held at the Kertha Sabha Building, Jayasabha, Denpasar, on Thursday (October 9), Koster emphasized the importance of comprehensive management across all tourist areas.

“We must build an integrated system that guarantees the safety and comfort of tourists while they are in Bali — from hotels, beaches, and mountains to rivers and inter-destination travel. Everything must be well-managed and connected,” Koster asserted.

He further highlighted the need to establish integrated service units and 24-hour tourist assistance posts at every tourist attraction (DTW), connected with health services, the police, Satpol PP, Basarnas, and tourism institutions.

“Every tourist site must have an easily accessible emergency service through a dedicated hotline. In the future, there will also be a digital application to ensure this protection system operates in an integrated way,” he explained.

According to Koster, strengthening the tourist protection system is part of Bali’s broader mission to realize a high-quality and sustainable tourism model.
“If this system works effectively, global trust in Bali will continue to grow. We want to show that Bali is not only about natural beauty but also about professional tourism management supported by skilled human resources and modern technology,” he added.

Bali Provincial Tourism Office Head, I Wayan Sumarajaya, reported that as of September 2025, the island had welcomed 5.6 million international visitors, with Australia, China, India, and the United Kingdom being the top four source countries.

Sumarajaya explained that Bali’s approach to tourist protection balances humanitarian principles with law enforcement.
“We protect law-abiding foreigners, but those who violate regulations will face action. Throughout 2025, there have been 1,185 immigration-related actions and 406 deportations. On the other hand, there were 144 cases where foreigners were victims, mostly involving accidents and violent crimes,” he revealed.

He also pointed out ongoing challenges, such as the lack of security personnel at tourism businesses, insufficient emergency health facilities, and limited cooperation with travel insurance providers. To address this, the provincial government plans to strengthen collaboration with hospitals, insurance services, and establish more protection posts at tourist sites.

“In the future, all tourist destinations will also be equipped with real-time weather information systems in partnership with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) at 81 tourist points,” he added.

The meeting was attended by officials from the Bali Provincial Government, disaster management agencies, immigration authorities, security forces, and tourism organizations. The discussions marked an initial step toward drafting a Regional Regulation on Quality Tourism Governance in Bali. (*)