The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is currently developing a new policy to tackle issues of overtourism and disrespectful behaviour among tourists visiting historical sites and vacation spots in Indonesia.
Nia Niscaya, the Tourism and Creative Economy Main Expert (Adyatama) of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, recently remarked that an upcoming tourism policy, titled Indonesia Quality Tourism, should help preserve and sustain historical sites and tourist destinations across the country. The specifics of the Indonesia Quality Tourism policy have yet to be disclosed.
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“Yesterday [Sunday, 1st of September] in Bali, we discussed ‘Indonesia Quality Tourism’, and there are related criteria. The presidential decree will be processed as the basis for implementing quality tourism, and that [the Indonesia Quality Tourism policy] will first be implemented at Borobudur [Temple],” said Niscaya in a YouTube programme, The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno, streamed on Monday, 2nd of September.
With Borobudur Temple being the top priority, Niscaya further explained that, under the new policy, this historical site would see improvements in infrastructure, facilities, and tourist behaviour. Previously, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) encouraged a ban on taking photos at historical sites—such as Borobudur Temple—due to the potential for these sites to go viral, which could lead to overtourism.
“I believe [the Indonesia Quality Tourism policy] would align [with UNESCO] because if the site is damaged, we will have nothing left. Therefore, maintenance is crucial, and this can be extended to other destinations as well,” Niscaya added.
The quality of tourists flocking to historical sites and vacation spots in Indonesia has been a hot topic recently. On Saturday, 1st of September, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, expressed concern on his personal Instagram page about overtourism and the disrespectful behaviour of foreign tourists in Bali.
“We do not want to see rice fields [in Bali] turned into villas or nightclubs. We must not allow local people’s jobs to be replaced by foreign tourists. However, the most important point is that we want to see the sacred culture and traditions of the Balinese people maintained and preserved. Without its culture and traditions, Bali would no longer be the ‘island of paradise’,” wrote Pandjaitan on his Instagram page.