On Wednesday, 7th February 2024, the Bali Government formally established a dedicated Municipal Police force for tourism, to be deployed across multiple tourist spots in Bali. Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, the Acting Governor of Bali, personally inaugurated the Tourism Municipal Police unit for Bali Province and Badung Regency at the Bali Governor’s Office in Denpasar.
Approximately 70 municipal police officers were designated for tourism duties in February 2024. Each officer will be stationed at different tourist destinations in Bali to ensure security and offer assistance to visitors.
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Additionally, all districts and cities within Bali will establish municipal police units dedicated to tourism. This decision was prompted by the significant influx of tourists to Bali in 2023. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Bali welcomed over 9.49 million foreign tourists, with domestic tourist numbers also reaching millions.
“As we all know, tourism is now a global industry and competition within the global tourism sector is intensifying. While Bali’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage provide a competitive edge, they alone are insufficient in the increasingly fierce global tourism arena,” explained Mahendra Jaya, as quoted by Pancar Pos.
Amidst the significant influx of tourists to Bali, several negative incidents have surfaced as a consequence of this surge in tourism. One notable concern is the rise in criminal activities involving both foreign and domestic tourists. A recent incident involved the shooting of a Turkish national by a group of Mexican gangsters wielding illegal firearms.
In addition, there have been various other instances where tourists have disrupted the security situation in Bali. A recent example is a case of fraudulent behaviour perpetrated by a tour guide against Chinese tourists. Consequently, ensuring the safety and security of tourists in Bali has become a paramount issue for the government. These incidents underscore the urgent need for the establishment of municipal police units for tourism in Bali.
