REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- The government has been asked to take firm action against many illegal operations of foreign business especially in the tourism sector.

Many foreigners coming with tourist visa to Bali have worked in the tourism sector or started business in small and handicraft industry, tourism observer Wayan Sukamada said here on Sunday.

Some of the foreigners work as guides for tourists from their respective countries, Wayan , a former owner of travel operator said.

A number of Russians holding tourist visa operate business to provide guides for Russian tourists, he cited.

"Some of them even work as car drivers, and surfing trainers," he added.

A number of visitors from other countries like Australia, Japan, China , Korea have also worked illegally in Bali saying they helped bring in more tourists from their respective countries, he said.

Ketut Sudarma, a driver offering to drive tourists in Bali said so far the government has made no attempt against illegal operations by many foreigners in the small business sector.

Ketut said it is no easy to crack down on the illegal business operations as they have protectors.

They were protected by local travel agents who gain from the visits by tourists organized by the illegal expatriates, he said.

The involvement of foreigners in organizing tourist visitors to Bali would benefit the travel agents but at the same time hurt the interest of local people in loss of job opportunities, he said.

Not few foreigners holding tourist visa from Korea, Europe and the United States have lived in Bali for years doing business exporting local products of handicraft and garments, he added.

"Some of them have even established their own firms under the name of local people. They produce goods and dominate the market at the expense of local small businesses," he said.

Many local garment makers in Bali have been forced to stop operation on failure in market competition against the more powerful foreign rivals, Nyoman Soka, a garment maker in Denpasar said.

Nyoman said he survived so far on success in maintaining good connections with buyers in the United States.

He said if the government continues to allow illegal operations of foreign business; the small business sector would be dominated by foreign firms under the name of local people.

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