The Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel (Asita)'s Bali branch has strongly urged Bali administration to regulate unlicensed travel agencies on the island.
Aloysius Purwa, Asita's chairperson, said that the operation of illegal travel agencies has ruined the image of Bali as a tourist island.
"Their operations have disturbed the island's tourism industry. Many of them are operating online. But, they have no license and have no proper programs. Their main concern is to get as many tourists as possible without thinking of guest safety," Purwa said.
Based on data from the Bali Tourism Office, there are 635 registered travel agencies operating on the island. "However, there are many more agencies operating without required licenses," Purwa pointed out.
Purwa estimated that the local administration has yet to take stern action against illegal travel agencies. "Anybody can run a tourism business as long as they obtain the necessary permits and licenses," Purwa maintained.
The provincial administration has proposed a bylaw on the operation of tour and travel agencies in Bali to the legislative council.
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika confirmed that the proposed bylaw was aimed at strictly regulating the operations of illegal tourist-related industries.
Any tour and travel agencies are required to submit their operation reports every six months to the Tourism Office.
"Many of them violated the regulation. The existence of the planned bylaw was urgently needed to also regulate illegal workers in the tourism industry," the governor added.
Pastika went further, saying that many illegal tourist-related businesses employed foreign workers without the necessary working permits and documents.
"Any employers must report their workers to the related agencies," Pastika added.
The proposed bylaw will consist of 21 articles and 14 sub-articles that refer to the existing 2009 Tourism Law and the 2007 Government Decree concerning the job division between the central, provincial and regional governments on tourism issues.
The governor revealed that many illegal tour and travel agencies have forced their clients to participate in special tours and have forced them to buy souvenirs and gifts in specific shops, boutiques or markets for the sake of commission fees.
Deputy Chairman of Bali Legislative Council I Gusti Bagus Alit Putra said that discussion on the proposed law is still underway.
"We expect to finish it by April," said Alit Putra.
The bylaw, when finished, would regulate any illegal tourist activities.
"Controls from the authority over illegal tour and travel agencies and other business activities in an effort to preserve Balinese culture and ethics," Alit Putra said.
Purwa commented that the bylaw is a start, but the authority should enforce it properly.
"Law enforcement must be enacted by the authority to prevent people from violating the bylaw," he said.
