‘Cowboys’ Kerfuffle Seen as No Threat To Tourism

Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana, May 03, 2010

A photo from a scene from the documentary featured on the film’s Facebook page. The film traces the interaction of Indonesian gigolos and tourists. (JG)

Denpasar. As Bali Police move forward with their investigation into the controversial documentary “Cowboys in Paradise,” the local tourism board shrugged off the film, saying it would not have a significant impact on the resort island.

Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra said on Sunday they now had enough evidence to summon the film’s director, Singaporean Amit Virmani.

“According to our investigation, the movie did not have a permit [to shoot],” Sugianyar said, adding that police had questioned two more officials — Bali Cultural and Tourism Agency head Ida Bagus Sedhawa and the head of the agency’s Film Department, Ketut Arcana.

According Ketut, any film shoot on the island had to have a permit from the agency and the police. After a filmmaker receives a permit, he said, the police will monitor the shoot.

He said all footage then had to be sent to the local film agency, and a panel of officials from the police, prosecutors, immigration, customs and excise, religious affairs and cultural and tourism departments would decide if the movie was suitable for viewing.

“None of these conditions were observed in the making of ‘Cowboys in Paradise’,” Ketut said.

Police spokesman Sugianyar said gathering testimony from experts was important to strengthen the case.

“With that, we have a strong basis to summon the movie’s director,” he said.

But Ida said he was confident the documentary, which portrays so-called gigolos in Kuta, would not affect the number of tourists visiting the province.

“Culture and the natural beauty of Bali remain the primary factors for most of the tourists visiting Bali. It is not about prostitution,” he said.

Ida added that all the attention paid to the documentary would soon fade and leave no lasting negative impression of Bali.

He did not deny there were gigolos in Kuta, but said there were just a few of them.

“In the tourism industry everywhere this exists, whether it is out in the open or secret. This is normal,” he said.

Local leader Made Piping agreed.

Made said it was only natural there would be gigolos in Kuta because foreign tourist were attracted to the beach boys.

“But this is not a prostitution industry that is well-organized,” Made said.