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Bali Enhances Screening as Tourist Numbers Near 4 Million
Jakarta: Bali authorities have intensified the screening of foreign nationals entering the Indonesian resort island due to a significant surge in tourist arrivals this year. The number of international visitors reached 3.89 million in the first seven months of 2024, marking an increase of nearly 1 million compared to the same period last year.
According to Pramella Yusnida Pasaribu, head of the Bali Regional Office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, heightened supervision is now in effect for all foreign visitors arriving at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. “We are committed to ensuring strict immigration supervision to maintain security and order in the Bali region,” stated Mdm Pramella.
Enhanced Immigration Screening Measures
The enhanced screening includes meticulous checks of travel documents, such as passports, visas, and residence permits. The process is supported by an integrated immigration information system designed to monitor foreigners’ movements more effectively. Additionally, facial recognition technology has been implemented to bolster border control management.
Bali’s immigration office collaborates closely with various agencies, including the police, customs, and tourism offices, to improve the effectiveness of the screening process. Since March 6, 2024, 30 autogate units equipped with facial recognition technology have been installed at Ngurah Rai Airport’s international arrival terminal. An additional 20 autogates are set to be installed at the international departure terminal, bringing the total to 80 units.
Surge in Tourist Arrivals
Data from Ngurah Rai Immigration indicates that from January to July 2024, Bali welcomed 3.89 million foreign tourists, up from 2.9 million during the same period in 2023. Australians led the influx with 877,329 visitors, followed by 328,767 from India and 278,329 from China. Other significant numbers came from the United Kingdom, South Korea, the United States, France, Malaysia, Singapore, and Germany.
Maintaining Security and Order
Mdm Pramella emphasized the importance of public awareness in maintaining security and order, urging residents to report any suspicious activities by foreign nationals. She also stressed that all visitors must comply with Indonesian laws and regulations.
Between January and July 19, 2024, 258 foreigners were deported from Bali, with 318 denied entry from January to March primarily due to lack of valid visas. Other reasons for denied entry included criminal records or insufficient passport validity.
Economic Impact
The surge in tourist arrivals has significantly boosted Bali’s Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP), with the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office collecting approximately 963.4 billion rupiah (US$60 million) in non-tax state revenue for the first half of 2024. This represents an 8 percent increase from the 894.7 billion rupiah collected during the same period in 2023. Visa fees accounted for about 90 percent of this revenue, contributing significantly towards the 1.5 trillion rupiah target for 2024.
Despite the tightened immigration checks, Mdm Pramella assured that services to tourists in Bali remain safe and comfortable. “We want to ensure that every tourist who comes to Bali can enjoy the natural beauty and culture of Bali safely and comfortably,” she said.
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