Leaders in the Bali Provincial Government are calling for tourist attraction managers and tourists to pay extra attention to current weather forecasts, wave predictions, and natural disaster warnings.
The updates come as unseasonal weather hits Bali, along with dangerous conditions at sea and increased seismic activity across Indonesia.
Speaking to reporters, Head of Bali Provincial Tourism Office I Wayan Sumarajaya, appealed to all tourism business actors, including tourist attraction managers, to increase vigilance and take security measures at their business locations.
He shared, “We are engaged in cultural tourism and also rely on natural beauty, of course, we cannot avoid the current natural conditions.
Sumarajaya confirmed that he and his teams have issued appeals to tourism management teams to strengthen risk mitigation across the board, including adding more supervising staff and prohibition signs at spots that are considered vulnerable. He noted that it is important to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists during their visit in the midst of uncertain weather.
Sumarajaya noted that although beaches and Bali’s mountainous and volcanic peaks are the main focus of the increased safety warnings because of the high potential danger during bad weather, all other infrastructure and environments, such as roads to tourist attractions, must still be monitored. He added, “In almost all tourism activities, we should also pay attention to the comfort and safety of our tourists.
On behalf of the Bali Tourism Office, he called for serious caution from both trekking guides and trekking tourists, especially on Bali’s most popular peaks, Mount Batur and Mount Agung. While the paths to the summit of both peaks are well trodden, they are by no means easy.
Hiking to the summit of Mount Batur or Mount Agung is a serious physical challenge that should only be undertaken by those in good health and fitness and with the support of a licensed local guide.
Sumarajaya shared that weather conditions on Mount Batur this week have been reasonable, but that preparation for all eventualities is essential. He told reporters, “For the time being, it’s not bad, especially in Batur, it’s still crowded. If you go up the mountain, don’t be alone. There must be a guide. The preparation must be really considered.” He added, “If you are not healthy, you should not go up.
Bali Senator Agung Bagus Tri Candra Arka has also echoed sentiments from Sumarajaya, calling for tourists to be vigilant and sensible during their time in Bali.
He told reporters on Thursday, 10th July, “Providing weather information to tourists is important to ensure their safety when visiting tourist destinations and to prevent any untoward incidents from happening to tourists on holiday in Bali.”
Tourists must be sure to check the weather and wave forecasts before traveling to Bali’s beaches. Wave forecasts are published on the Bali Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency Instagram.
Conditions at Bali’s most popular beaches can be perfectly tranquil and calm, and at other times, dangerously high waves and rip currents can appear. A search and rescue mission was conducted for a Saudi Arabian tourist who was pulled out to sea while swimming at Batu Belig Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
Search and Rescue Officers from Basarnas were immediately deployed after receiving the report and searched the area throughout Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday, and into Thursday, though no sign of the 29-year-old woman has been found.
Giving an update late on Wednesday, 9th July, the Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, Nyoman Sidakarya, told reporters, “From the report we received, the victim’s identity is AAMA, 29 years old and temporarily residing in Kerobokan Kelod, North Kuta District.”
He continued to share that on Tuesday afternoon, “The team, divided into two [search and rescue units], conducted searches to the west and east. They followed the coastline for approximately one kilometer, but found nothing.”
He added, “Today, the joint SAR team resumed the search, but as of this afternoon, the results were still zero.”
The search and rescue mission is being supported by local volunteers, and traditional village leaders have been conducting religious ceremonies in accordance with local wisdom.
