Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa noted that there has been no apparent impact on the number of tourist arrivals from Australia so far, following a shooting incident involving three Australians in Bali.
"We continue to see growth in the arrivals of Australian tourists every year. Australia is among the top three countries of origin of tourists visiting Bali. I hope this incident will not affect that trend,” she stated, as quoted here on Sunday.
However, she said that the shooting was not related to the travel warning updated by the Australian government on June 20.
The Australian government’s official travel information service, Smartraveller, updated information on travel advice for Indonesia, especially regarding potential penalties caused by offensive behaviour towards local customs, strong rip currents at beaches, and risks of drink spiking.
The deputy minister stated that such a warning is a common advisory for Australian citizens to increase their vigilance while traveling, a practice also implemented by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism for its citizens traveling abroad.
"The travel advice actually brings a positive message to respect local communities, increase awareness, and prioritize safety when visiting beaches or other tourist attractions," she remarked.
On June 14, two Australian citizens were shot at the Casa Santisya 1 Villa, Munggu Village, Badung District, Bali, resulting in the death of ZR (33) and leaving SG (35) injured.
The Bali Regional Police have named and arrested three Australian nationals as suspects in the shooting, namely TPM (37), CM (23), and DFJ (37).
According to Chief of the Bali Regional Police, Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, the shooting was planned by DFJ, while the other two acted as executors.
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Currently, SG, the key witness and survivor of in the incident, has been relocated to a secure location under the supervision of the police and the Australian Consulate as authorities continue to investigate the case.
Still, the Ministry of Tourism expressed concern over the shooting incident, while also acknowledging the swift action of the police in apprehending the perpetrators.
The incident serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of security in tourism areas, especially in Bali, which serves as a major gateway for nearly 50 percent of foreign visitors to Indonesia.
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To avoid similar incidents from happening, the ministry calls on tourism business players, particularly hotel operators, to enhance their security measures.
"I urge all hotel operators to re-evaluate and improve security within their premises," Deputy Minister Ni Luh Puspa said.
She stated that addressing and preventing such incidents is not solely the responsibility of the police, but also the duty of the Ministry of Tourism, provincial governments, local communities, as well as hotel operators.
"Therefore, supervision and security in hotels must be enhanced to prevent such incidents from recurring," she added.
