Luhut: Bali Should Deport Low-Quality Tourists!

Head of the National Economic Council, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has asked the Bali Provincial Government to be more selective in accepting foreign tourists. Luhut asked that ‘low-quality’ tourists be deported.

“So Bali must be orderly, tourists who are not of good quality, we have coordinated during my time as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, they should be deported from here,” he said.

He explained that foreign tourists who could be deported include those with legal problems in Indonesia, such as drug abuse, fights, and activities that harm local MSMEs.

“We, if we reduce another 10,000 people (tourists), that will not make Bali a problem. Bali is loved by people, let those who come be quality tourists to Bali,” Luhut praised.

After highlighting the issue of orderliness, including land-use changes, Luhut said that there should also be digital-based supervision, which could also make it more difficult for illegal practices to be carried out.

“The issue of orderliness, land-use changes, with digitalization, it will no longer be possible to play around. And later, maybe the solution will be penalties,” said Luhut, Thursday (February 26, 2026).

“So, from now on, it must be reminded that those who make improper land-use changes will be subject to adjustments later,” he continued.

The former Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment called Bali an ‘gem’ of Indonesia because it has a quality of tourism management that attracts the world’s attention. In the future, in addition to strengthening infrastructure, handling waste-based energy, and improving spatial planning, there will also be rapid steps in digital transformation.

Luhut also hopes that Bali can become a model for sustainable tourism management in Indonesia. “Bali is the jewel of Indonesia, so if Bali is not good, then people outside will also be lazy to come to Indonesia. So, Bali must be orderly,” he concluded.

(mud/mud)