Security Lacking at Many Bali Tourist Class Hotels

(10/5/2009)

Beritabali.com reports that 44 "Melati" or "tourist class" recently failed to earn security and safety certificates issued by the government of Bali. The certificates are issued after visits and review by a team of officials from various departments of the island's government.

From a total of 60 Melati Class hotels examined, only 16 hotels earned certification. Moreover, from the 16 hotels none qualified for the highest "gold" level of certification, while 2 earned "silver" certificates and the remaining 14 "bronze."

According to the Chief of Tours for Denpasar, Putu Budiasa, the main cause for the failure among the 44 hotels who failed to earn certification was a non-professional "family style" management and minimum levels of security personnel and equipment in place at the subject hotels.

Budiasa told the press that 179 Melati class hotels have been reviewed, of which 91 have earned certification.

Budiasa said that those Melati class hotels failing to meet safety and security standards will be given training and education to allow them to eventually embrace and meet established standards.

The review and certification of safety and security at Melati Class hotels took place during the months of August and September 2009 and involved a combined team from the Denpasar police headquarters, community action agencies, disaster relief specialists, health officials, tourism officials and representatives from the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI).