Semarang, The Indonesia Post – The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno reminded tourists, especially from abroad, to comply with applicable regulations, including driving and traffic on the highway.
“The ban on motorbike rental (in Bali, Ed.) is of course due to the many complaints and traffic violations and accidents involving foreign tourists,” said Sandiaga, after giving a public lecture at the Sultan Agung Islamic University (Unissula), Semarang, Central Java , Thursday.
Sandiaga responded to the prohibition for foreign tourists to use rented motorbikes in Bali issued by the local provincial government.
He admitted that traffic violations and accidents were caused by the incompetence and inexperience of foreign tourists riding motorbikes, and their ignorance of basic traffic rules.
“Such as wearing a helmet and driving according to traffic safety protocols,” he said again.
Because of that, he also said, the regulation was issued to avoid traffic violations resulting in accidents involving foreign tourists. In fact, sometimes to fatal.
“The Provincial Government of Bali made changes to the governor’s regulation (governor’s regulation) which prohibits renting motorbikes to foreign tourists. Of course we will see how this impacts quality and sustainable tourism,” he said.
To realize quality and sustainable tourism, Sandiaga said that what tourists are actually aiming for is using cars, while motorbikes are only used for certain conditions, for example being stuck in traffic jams.
“Even that (using motorbikes, Ed.) is also assisted by ‘online’ motorcycle taxis or other transportation service providers,” he also said.
Sandiaga hopes that there will be strict sanctions against traffic violations committed by anyone, including foreign tourists.
“This process is of course to present a welcoming Bali to foreign tourists, but also has legal corridors. We want tourists to respect and it is their obligation to comply with all regulations during tourism activities,” he said again.
Previously, the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, prohibited tourists, especially foreign nationals, from traveling to Bali to rent motorbikes.
The Provincial Government of Bali already has a number of regulations governing foreign nationals through a governor’s regulation regarding tourism governance in this province, including a prohibition for foreign nationals to use motorized vehicles.
“So, the tourists have to travel using cars from ‘travel agents’. It is no longer allowed to use vehicles that are not from travel agents. Borrowing or renting is no longer allowed,” he stressed.
Based on the results of the prosecution by the Bali Police, it was found that many tourists, especially foreign tourists, violated traffic rules, starting from not wearing clothes while driving, not wearing a helmet to not having a license to drive.
The governor said that the change in the rules would only take effect in 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic, to improve the tourism system which is not only oriented towards the number of tourist visits each year, but maintains cultured tourism. (mhn/bbs)
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