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Jakarta Post

Ministry denies rumor of sharia tourism in Bali

Holiday season: Foreign and domestic tourists flock to Kuta beach, Bali on Tuesday

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Fri, November 27, 2015

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Ministry denies rumor of sharia tourism in Bali

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span class="inline inline-center">Holiday season: Foreign and domestic tourists flock to Kuta beach, Bali on Tuesday. The government has decided to let tourists from China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and Russia enter Indonesia visa-free, hoping that this would increase the number of tourists from the five countries. (JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

The Tourism Ministry has denied rumors that sharia tourism would be developed in Bali.

"We don't want to develop sharia tourism in Bali," said deputy Tourism Minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana in Bali, on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com. "Bali tourists come from various countries, ethnicities and religions and Bali tourism has consistently provided a cultural-based concept based on traditional Balinese values."

In regards to the notion of sharia tourism, the government encourages businesspeople involved in the tourist sector to provide halal products so that all facilities can be enjoyed by everyone. However, the label of sharia is a sensitive one for some.  

Pitana added that the government would develop Muslim-family tourism that would enable visitors to enjoy halal services catering to foreigners from Islamic countries.

The issue of sharia tourism in Bali has generated a negative reaction from several parties, including the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) and Bali Tourism Board (BTB), which have sent an official letter rejecting the plan to the Tourism Ministry.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Travel and Tours Agencies (ASITA), Asnawi Bahar, told thejakartapost.com that people should first learn what sharia tourism entailed before jumping to conclusions.

"[Sharia tourism] means that we facilitate the needs and lifestyles of Muslim tourists who want to travel to Bali or other places. It doesn't affect the tourism destination itself,'€ said Asnawi on Friday.

According to Asnawi, sharia tourism was part of the government's efforts to increase foreign tourist arrivals in the country, including Bali.

'€œEvery time our ASITA members bring a group of Muslim tourists to Indonesia, including Bali, they take them to halal restaurants that serve halal food. We have actually been practicing sharia tourism for a long time, so I think it is the government's duty to better educate and communicate the term to the communities,'€ added Asnawi. (nov/kes)(+)

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