Anambas tourism resort in Indonesia shut down due to lack of licenses

Monday, March 13, 2023

The Pulau Bawah (PB) Resort in Anambas District, Riau Islands, in Indonesia has been closed down by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry for failing to get the necessary licences to utilise seashores and islands.

According to Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin, director general of marine and fisheries resource monitoring, there is evidence of PT PB’s improper usage of small islands since it lacked the four essential licences.

The permits in question include the agreement on marine activities document, the business permit, the permit to utilise small islands for foreign investment, and the permit to conduct water tourism in a protected area.

“According to investigation reports, PT PB has been confirmed to have committed violation against the use of small islands because it has no document on agreement on activities at sea, business permit, permit to use small islands, and permit to use the conservation area. Thus, on Friday, March 10, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry forcibly stopped all activities of PT. PB in Anambas District for a certain period of time,” he noted in a statement.

He further stated that the forced shutdown is a result of National Audit Board (BPK) findings on PT PB, with the latter indicating improper usage of small islands that did not comply with relevant legislation.
Prior to closing the facility, two formal warnings were issued to the company in 2022. Nonetheless, the government summoned the company’s management due to the absence of response.

“In accordance with instruction from Mr. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the use of sea must be conducted in accordance with the applicable regulation, so as to prevent ecological damage, as is stipulated in the Ministry’s Regulation Number 53 of 2020 on permit to use small islands for foreign investment,” Nurawaluddin explained.

He emphasised that the company had been sanctioned on many charges, including articles from the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law on Job Creation and the ministerial regulation.

He confirmed that the company’s activity will be resumed once the appropriate licences for their commercial activities were obtained.

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