February 4, 2025
JAKARTA – Calls are growing for the government to “evaluate” Bali’s tourist industry after a string of crimes by foreign perpetrators, including the recent kidnapping and robbery of a Ukrainian tourist in the island province, allegedly by a group of foreign visitors.
Siti Mukaromah, a member of House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing creative economy and tourism, said a comprehensive solution was needed to address the increase in reported criminal activities on the resort island.
“The Tourism Ministry needs to thoroughly evaluate Bali’s tourism industry,” Siti said on Sunday, as quoted by Antara.
“Bali has been seeing a growing number of foreign tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic, but the ministry must assess whether local regulations are sufficient to address emerging issues on the island,” she added.
Siti’s statement comes after reports emerged that a 48-year-old Ukrainian man, identified only by his initials IL, was allegedly kidnapped and robbed on Dec. 15 in Kuta, a tourist hot spot in Badung regency.
IL and his 49-year-old driver were on Jl. Penyu Dipal when a black SUV blocked their car in front, while another blocked the rear.
Nine men in ski masks wearing black vests marked “Polisi” (police) and armed with guns, knives and hammers emerged from the two vehicles, and forced IL and his driver out of their car. The group allegedly assaulted the pair before handcuffing and blindfolding them, and then taking them to a nearby villa where they forced IL to transfer US$214,400 in cryptocurrency to specific accounts.
Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Ariasandy said authorities were still looking for the group, which allegedly comprised six Russian nationals, two Kazakhs and a Ukrainian.
Last week, police arrested a 30-year-old Russian man identified as KA at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, on suspicion of his involvement in the kidnapping and robbery. The man was released the following day however, after it was verified that he was in the United Arab Emirates at the time of the incident.
Just two weeks prior, the Bali Police arrested AF, a 53-year-old German national, for constructing a sprawling 65,000-square-meter luxury hotel complex on protected rice fields.
In June 2024, local police arrested 103 Taiwanese nationals for operating a scam call center out of a villa in Tabanan regency. Several other foreign visitors were arrested last year for running illicit drug operations in Bali.
Bali Representatives Council (DPD) member Ni Luh Djelantik said preventive measures and strict enforcement were crucial to ensure the safety of both residents and foreign tourists in the province.
“We need to grant neighborhood unit heads the authority to inspect all houses rented by tourists in their area as a preventive measure against potential criminal activity,” she said in a television interview.
Djelantik also urged the Immigration and Corrections Ministry to increase tourist visa fees to help curb overtourism.
Excessive tourism and overdevelopment are major challenges in Bali, and have contributed to environmental issues like flooding, greater waste and an increase in criminal activity.
In 2024, Bali Police recorded 5,363 criminal cases, including theft, robbery, assault and drug abuse, up 17 percent from the previous year. According to local authorities, 226 foreign visitors were implicated in crimes last year, while 228 others were victims of criminal activity.