Indonesia’s immigration authorities are implementing stricter measures to manage the influx of foreign tourists in Bali, a renowned holiday hotspot. These measures include intensified scrutiny of travel documents such as passports, visas, and residence permits, as reported by Antara News Agency.
To support this initiative, additional automated immigration facilities, or autogates, will be installed at Ngurah Rai International Airport’s international terminals. An expanded integrated immigration information system will enhance the monitoring of foreign visitors’ movements, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Tourists at a beach in Bali, Indonesia
This policy change comes in response to a notable surge in tourist arrivals. Official data from Indonesia’s immigration authority reveal that Bali welcomed 3.89 million foreign tourists between January and July, marking a 31% increase compared to the same period last year. Australia topped the list of visitors with 877,000 tourists, followed by India with 328,000, and China with 278,000.
Despite the tourism boom, there have been several incidents involving foreigners violating immigration laws and local customs, potentially harming Bali’s tourism image. The Bali Sun reports that 258 foreign nationals have been deported from Bali so far this year, compared to 340 deportations last year.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, received 6.4 million foreign tourists from January to June, a 21% increase over the same period last year. The country aims to attract 17 million foreign visitors by the end of the year.
