Jakarta. Bali is planning to prohibit foreign tourists from renting motorbikes following a string of traffic violations by misbehaving visitors.

The 2020 Bali gubernatorial regulation on tourism encouraged visitors to act in an orderly manner by using tourist transport services. In other words, they ought to travel in cars provided by the travel agents. According to Bali Tourist Office head Tjok Bagus Pemayun, motorbikes do not classify as tourist vehicles.

“We have spoken with the Transport Office, and two-wheelers or motorcycles are not tourist vehicles. We hope to make sure that these tourists are safe when traveling in Bali,” Tjok said at a Tourism Ministry press conference on Monday.

Tjok said that his office planned to discuss the matter with the Bali police. He added that the provincial government was currently focusing on putting things back in order for “quality and dignified tourism”.

Read More: Indonesia Aims to Attract 7.4m Foreign Tourists in 2023

Commenting on the proposed ban, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno called for a comprehensive study on the said policy as motorbike rentals play a role in the economy. Sandiaga admitted that the proposed ban also sparked a debate among the public, with some in favor of prohibiting foreigners from renting motorbikes. 

“Motorbike rentals open up many business opportunities, and also help generate jobs. We must ensure the continuity of the local economy, while also upholding the traffic rules and the safety of the motorists,” the minister said.

The Bali Police, as reported by news outlet CNN Indonesia, said on Sunday that they had caught more than 171 traffic violations by foreign tourists within just a week. These foreign tourists are often helmet-less and use fake license plates.

According to government reports, Bali attracted 2.3 million foreign tourists last year. Bali has set a goal to welcome 4.5 million foreign travelers in 2023.