Recent violent crime spree in Bali targeting tourists sparks concerns and debate as some hotels tighten security
Recent violent crime spree in Bali targeting tourists sparks concerns, debate as some hotels tighten security
Bali’s governor has said the most recent cases, the sexual assaults of three foreign tourists within three days last month, are isolated incidents. But some tourism players want the local government to do more.
JAKARTA: Some hotels in Bali are stepping up security measures after a recent spate of violent crimes, including three foreign tourists sexually assaulted in as many days last month.
Industry insiders and observers say gaps such as weak oversight of accommodation providers should be tackled to give visitors a greater sense of safety, even as Bali’s governor has maintained the island remains safe and tourism continues as normal.
The sexual assault cases, which occurred separately on Mar 23 to 25, are isolated incidents, Governor Wayan Koster reportedly said on Mar 26. Bali police have arrested three Indonesian men in connection with the crimes.
The first case involved a woman from China who was returning to Wingsu Guest House in North Kuta from a night club in an intoxicated state at around 4.30am, according to the Indonesian National Police.
She got on the perpetrator’s motorcycle but could not remember if she used an app or a traditional motorcycle taxi, the police said.
The perpetrator raped her in a grassy area in Labuansait. The police arrested the 23-year-old suspect when he returned to the guesthouse to try to return the woman’s mobile phone, the police said.
The second case, on Mar 24, involved an Australian woman who was raped by a security staff member of a Seminyak nightclub when she returned to the club for personal items she had left behind, Bali police said.
The suspect, 29, allegedly raped her in the nightclub’s toilet at around 4am, the police said. He was arrested on Mar 26.
The third case involved a Chinese national and took place in Canggu in North Kuta. The woman had returned at around 4am from a nightspot and could not find her hotel room key, according to Bali police.
She went to the front desk for help and was later sexually assaulted by the perpetrator. The suspect, 24, has been variously described in media reports as a front-desk employee and a freelance security staff member of the hotel.
At least two foreigners have also been killed in Bali in the last two months.
A Dutchman was fatally stabbed on Mar 23 while returning to his villa in North Kuta with his Indonesian girlfriend. He was attacked by two unidentified men and later died in hospital, according to the authorities, as reported by The Jakarta Post. The police were working to identify the attackers.
In February, Ukrainian tourist Igor Komarov was kidnapped and killed in the Jimbaran area by a group of foreigners while riding scooters with two friends, reported The Jakarta Post.
He was kidnapped on Feb 15. A video of him pleading for help surfaced before his body was discovered on Feb 27, about 30km from where he was abducted. The authorities have identified six suspects, who remain at large, The Jakarta Post reported.
MORE PATROLS, TIGHTER ACCESS CONTROL
Yolla Oktavia, director of talent and culture at Ayodya Resort in Bali’s upscale Nusa Dua area, said the hotel has strengthened various security measures, such as increasing patrols, installing CCTV in public areas and providing staff with training to handle emergencies and protect guest privacy.
“We also review and adjust our standard operating procedures, such as tightening access control, increasing monitoring in vulnerable areas and enhancing communication with guests,” she said.
“Most guests are still comfortable as long as they receive clear information and good service from the hotel,” she told CNA.
Hotelier Avi Purnomo, whose company operates 29 bungalows in the Sanur area, said he has not seen any significant concern among tourists, especially those staying in “well-established hotels”.
But “we are not turning a blind eye” to the recent crimes, he said. He declined to name his company, but said it maintains “strict measures”.
“For example, it is not possible for a front-office staff member to be on duty alone at night. There are always several staff members, so they cannot act arbitrarily,” said Avi, who is also chairman of the Sanur Hospitality Forum.
“We also conduct regular CCTV checks and patrols. Those are standard practices in established hotels,” he said.
Bali Governor Wayan, meanwhile, has said the island’s “security, stability, tourism activities and public services continue to run optimally”.
“The Bali provincial government is committed to maintaining this trust through concrete actions, collaboration and swift responses to every issue that arises,” he said on Mar 26, as quoted by Media Indonesia.
But Avi said the local government can do more by stepping up oversight of accommodation providers.
“Accommodations are emerging everywhere without proper control, without any certification, and they are simply left as they are,” he said.
The common practice of converting residential properties into villas further complicates oversight, he added.
Evaluation mechanisms and enforcement should be stricter so that only industry players that meet standards are allowed to operate, Avi said. “There should be inspections to ensure whether these accommodations meet service and security standards, from guest check-in to check-out.”
Sapta Nirwandar, chairman of the Indonesia Halal Lifestyle Centre and Indonesia Tourism Forum, said that while the authorities should reaffirm Bali remains a safe destination, the message must be backed up by action.
“Law enforcement is crucial. The situation must be genuinely safe,” he said.
Last week, in the wake of the rape and sexual assault cases, Bali Police told tourists to take precautions and “minimise the opportunity that could cause a crime”, as its general crimes investigation director I Gede Adhi Mulyawarman put it.
“In these cases, based on the incidents and the available evidence, the perpetrators