Tourism Law Passed by DPR: Bali No Longer the Sole Champion!

The House of Representatives (DPR) of the Republic of Indonesia officially ratified the revision of the Tourism Law during a Plenary Meeting on Thursday (October 2nd) at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta.

"Can it be approved to be enacted into law?" asked Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, which was immediately agreed to by the council members.

Reason for Revision

Deputy Chairman of Commission VII of the DPR, Lamhot Sinaga, emphasized that this revision aims to strengthen tourism's position as an economic engine.

“Tourism is an engine for economic growth," he said. 

He reminded that tourism foreign exchange in 2019 even surpassed oil and gas, minerals, and coal.

Although 2024 foreign exchange reached US$16.71 billion, Lamhot highlighted that 44 percent of the benefits are still concentrated in Bali.

“The government has designated five super-priority destinations such as Lake Toba, Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, Borobudur, and Raja Ampat. 

But the role of the Tourism Authority Agencies in these locations must be strengthened so that the benefits can be felt by the wider community, not just Bali,” he stated.

Direction of New Policy

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stressed that this new law serves as the foundation for inclusive and sustainable development.

“Tourism not only introduces Indonesia's natural and cultural beauty to the world, but also opens up employment opportunities, increases foreign exchange, and acts as a driver of the national economy,” she said.

She reminded of challenges such as environmental degradation, erosion of local culture, low service quality, and minimal economic benefits for communities.

“Tourism development must maintain a balance between community empowerment, environmental preservation, economic improvement, and synergy among stakeholders,” she emphasized.

Chairman of Commission VII of the DPR, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, added, “If previously tourism was viewed more as the utilization of resources, now tourism is positioned as an instrument for civilizational development, strengthening national identity, and the realization of the human right to travel.”

Input from Academics

Taufan Rahmadi from the Expert Council of the National Solidarity Movement (GSN) assessed the need to establish an Indonesia Tourism Board.

“Then, equally important is the Indonesia Tourism Board. This is an institution that deals not only with promotion but also with destination development,” he said.

He also proposed the implementation of the BLU Pariwisata (Tourism Public Service Agency) scheme.

“In my opinion, this BLU scheme will facilitate budget allocation without convoluted bureaucracy and be more responsive to the dynamics of the global tourism market,” he stated.

Next Steps

The official bill text will soon be sent to President Prabowo Subianto for enactment. According to the constitution, if not signed within 30 days, this bill automatically becomes law. (Antara)