bali tourist problems

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‘It’s disgusting’: Bali locals are fed up with bad tourists

Many in bali are sick of the disrespect, the illegal work and the indecent social media posts from foreigners.

Shannon Smith had been to Bali before, but it was her first trip back since the pandemic. This time, the Cairns, Australia, resident had come to Indonesia’s “Island of the Gods” for a work conference in Nusa Dua, a resort hub at Bali’s southern tip. While bouncing between Nusa Dua and popular tourist areas such as Kuta and Seminyak, Smith, who works in hotel management, noticed a few changes. There was more traffic on the roads, and there were fewer visitors from Asia and more Russians.

But the Balinese people were as welcoming as ever, and the place was still rife with rowdy tourists.

“If I wanted to hang out with drunken Australians, I’d stay at home,” Smith said.

The image many outsiders have of Bali — the one depicted in the 2010 Julia Roberts blockbuster “Eat Pray Love” — still exists. Bali remains covered with deep green rice paddies and golden sand stretching into turquoise water. Warm locals still banter with beach-bar-loving foreigners. But it’s not as tranquil these days.

In a little over a year since Bali reopened for international travel, an uptick in unruly behavior from tourists has removed some of the magic from paradise, pushing national and local officials to think up new ways to address offenders.

Reckless driving, social media flashing

From the country’s capital city, a top minister recently advocated for a tax on foreign tourists entering Indonesia to discourage “low-income” visitors. The Bali Tourism Board is promoting an ad campaign asking travelers to behave more respectfully. The local government has recently proposed banning visitors from renting motorbikes to curb reckless driving, CNN reported. And the Indonesian immigration department has been busy deporting foreigners who have been working illegally on tourist visas or breaking local laws.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster said in a news briefing that he has proposed revoking the visa-on-arrival program for travelers from Russia and Ukraine, who have been arriving in bigger numbers since the two countries have been at war , although plenty of people of other nationalities have been involved in recent incidents .

Immigration officials announced last week that they deported a Russian man who posted a widely circulated photo to social media that showed him with his pants around his ankles atop Mount Agung, a sacred site for Hindus. Another Russian man was deported in late February for working as a photographer in violation of his residence permit.

Tourism statistics recorded by Bali province show 22,104 Russian visitors came this January , a total second only to Australia, which had 91,254 citizens arrive in the island getaway. From November 2022 to January 2023, Russian tourists accounted for 5.6 percent of Bali’s nearly 997,000 foreign visitors, slightly larger than the 4.8 percent share of visitors from Russia in January 2020.

Reports in foreign media have also covered the traffic accidents and reckless driving, fights with local authorities and immigration violations , topless driving and indecent exposure . There was the foreigner working illegally on a tourist visa to teach Balinese dance and meditation, and the group of foreigners who filed a complaint against crowing roosters in a local neighborhood.

The latter incident baffled Bali native Megah Bintaranny, a product manager for Rainforest Cruises’ Southeast Asia market.

“How do you complain about that? We cannot control chickens,” Bintaranny said.

If the foreigners had been staying at a luxury hotel in a tourist hot spot, that would be one thing. But they were staying in a guesthouse in a residential area, where the noises of rural life abound, roosters and all. “When you choose to live in a local area,” Bintaranny added, “you need to accept [local noises].”

Overtourism on ‘party island’

Bali is part of a growing number of popular travel destinations fed up with overtourism. Hawaii is considering a bill to dissolve its government-sponsored tourism marketing agency. Amsterdam has been trying to reduce rowdy tourist behavior in its Red Light District , rolling out a ban on pot-smoking on the streets there, reducing hours for restaurants and brothels, and tightening some alcohol restrictions. Italian authorities have been fining tourists in Rome , Florence and Venice for littering, camping, vandalism and traffic violations.

The new rules of travel

Like Hawaii, Amsterdam and Italy, Bali is also fed up with tourists who aren’t breaking any laws, but who show little respect for local life.

“We have a lot of tolerance here, … but it’s this behavior of: ‘I am the more important person. Look at me,’” said Fatmawati, an Indonesian personal assistant and freelance photographer who moved to Bali from the island of Java nine years ago. (Fatmawati uses only one name, which is common in Indonesia.) “It’s disgusting. People are tired of it. I’m tired of it.”

Tjok Bagus Pemayun, the head of the Bali government tourism office, told The Washington Post in a written statement that Balinese culture is a source of happiness for locals, so “of course they would be angry” to see foreigners disrespect it: “Destroying their culture means destroying their life.”

When Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, Intrepid Travel’s general manager for Bali operations, moved to Bali in February 2022, “the roads were empty, hotels were empty,” he said. Tourism has increased significantly since then. Intrepid’s bookings in Indonesia have recovered to 2019 levels, and in Bali, “it’s definitely very busy,” he said. “There are tourists everywhere.”

He blames some of the recent issues on ignorance. “To a lot of people, Bali is considered more like a party island,” Shekhawat said. “That could be one of the reasons that people are not very aware about how traditional local people are.”

Being an expat himself, Shekhawat feels disappointed seeing cases like the foreigner who went viral after “having a heated argument” with local people over a traffic detour due to a religious procession — a common occurrence in Bali.

“As an outsider, you may have your opinion, but local people’s opinion should matter as well,” Shekhawat said. “It’s their land, it’s their island, and they should be allowed to follow their culture and tradition as they want to.”

Justin Smith, owner of the luxury travel-planning company the Evolved Traveler , acknowledges that Bali has been known for decades as a “bohemian destination” where foreigners were welcome to behave and dress as they like. He believes it’s often lost on visitors that Bali has expectations for respect and modest dress.

“It was acceptable to a point, but it has now gone too far,” Smith said. “There’s an absolute lack of respect for the destination, and for Bali to be pushed to that extent, that means this bad behavior is pretty extensive.”

Calling out illegal workers on Instagram

Bintaranny thinks shocking behavior is becoming more frequent because of social media. People seem to be pushing boundaries for internet fame, seeing sacred sites as “sexy for their Instagram,” she said. “And for them, it is probably not a big thing, but for Balinese, … it’s just an insult.”

Although social media may amplify each example of misbehavior, Shekhawat believes the majority of visitors aren’t disruptive. Febria Diah Retnoningsih, a counselor of social, cultural and information affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, agreed that the “bad behavior is just one drop in the ocean.”

But the government doesn’t endorse visa abuse or dangerous driving . “It’s the same as other countries,” Shekhawat said. “You cannot work without a work visa, and there are strict regulations to operate a vehicle.”

“Can you imagine taking jobs from locals? Nannies?” — Fatmawati, an Indonesian personal assistant and freelance photographer

Pemayun says it’s important to curb bad behavior, even though the number of offenders is small, to avoid having the issue “spread to other tourists” and “damage the image of Bali tourism in the world.”

Bali has a program to welcome remote workers , but the so-called “second-home visa” comes with a number of requirements, including proof of the equivalent of nearly $129,000 in savings. The current frustration isn’t directed at such residents, but at foreign workers competing with locals for jobs. There are various Instagram accounts that document examples; the one that Fatmawati says creates the biggest stir among locals anonymously reposts content from foreigners advertising their services, presumably without the proper visa.

Passport wait times are up again. Don’t let them spoil a trip.

Under the satirical guise of supporting local small business, the ( currently suspended ) account @moscow_cabang_bali and its backup account share public ads (mostly from Russians, hence the name) selling swim lessons, hair cuts, surf instruction, tattoos, yoga classes and villa rentals.

“They’re bragging about it,” Fatmawati said of the ads. “What is really crazy is that they’re taking jobs like nannies, renting motorbikes. Can you imagine taking jobs from locals? Nannies?”

Asking for respect

Even in the current climate, Fatmawati says tourists to Bali won’t encounter any angst from locals or authorities if they don’t break basic rules, and Pemayun said “Balinese people feel very happy” with the return of tourism.

Shekhawat says that’s been the case for Intrepid Travel’s group tours. Locals seem to welcome the tourists, Shekhawat said, and are understanding that sometimes travelers “may not behave 100 percent as they want them to — but there is a limit to everything.”

To be a better visitor on Bali, Pemayun encourages travelers to “respect cultural values, traditions and local wisdom.” He would like visitors to behave in an orderly manner, be environmentally friendly, stay longer, spend money on local businesses and make repeat visits.

Shekhawat also recommends reading up on cultural norms before your trip, and exploring less-visited areas of Bali than the most popular spots, such as Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu and Uluwatu. That may entail heading to the northern and western parts of the island, such as West Bali National Park, a wildlife oasis with 160 recorded species of birds. You could also take a ferry to nearby Gili and Lombok islands, where you’ll find more sun, sand and surf — and fewer tourists.

Wherever you go, “please respect our culture,” Retnoningsih said. “That’s what makes Bali, Bali: its rich culture.”

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How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

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Bali’s Locals Are Really Fed Up With Rude Tourists

Bad behavior is creating a rift between residents and visitors., tori latham, tori latham's most recent stories.

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Bali has long been a popular vacation spot, as visitors seek out its calming beaches and verdant nature. But more recently, some of those tourists haven’t been getting a very warm welcome from locals.

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Among the offenses locals have dealt with are reckless driving, immigration violations, and indecent exposure. And while some of these are certainly illegal, many more actions are simply disrespectful to the local culture, such as complaints about traffic detours due to religious processions. A lot of tourists seem to forget that both respect is extremely important to the Balinese, Smith said.

To combat the island’s tourism problem, Bali is working to implement changes that would cut down on the number of people visiting and encourage those who are to act more respectfully. The tourism board recently launched an ad campaign saying as much, and officials have proposed motorbike bans and taxes for foreign visitors, among other measures. The government has even deported visitors.

On this, Bali isn’t alone. Several other countries, states, and cities are trying to adapt to over-tourism and cut back on the ways in which it’s affecting the local culture. Hawaii might get rid of its government-sponsored tourism marketing agency, while Italy has fined tourists for offenses ranging from littering to vandalism.

Tori Latham is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. She was previously a copy editor at The Atlantic, and has written for publications including The Cut and The Hollywood Reporter. When not…

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Negative Impacts of Tourism in Bali: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article, we explore the negative impacts of tourism in Bali, such as environmental issues and effects on equality, as well as touching on some of the positive consequences of tourism.

By Victoria Heinz, of www.guideyourtravel.com All images courtesy of Victoria Heinz

Have you ever dreamed of visiting the beautiful beaches and temples of Bali? This Balinese paradise is a popular tourist destination for many travellers, however it’s important to be aware that tourism may have its drawbacks.

In this article we will examine some of the negative impacts that travel in Bali can have on both the people and environment. From increased infrastructure problems to waste management issues – it pays to do your research before planning a trip, especially if you’re planning to visit popular areas like Uluwatu or Canggu. So read on to find out more about these potential pitfalls and how you can make conscious choices while enjoying Bali!

As any traveller to Indonesia is aware, the country is brimming with lush nature and unique wildlife. It’s a paradise for anyone looking to explore or escape in its natural beauty. However, beneath the surface lies an environmental crisis facing Indonesia today that demands action from both local and international travellers alike.

Table of Contents

Overview of Indonesia’s Current Environmental Situation

Indonesia is currently facing a significant environmental challenge. The rapid expansion of industries such as mining, agriculture, and forestry has resulted in deforestation, soil degradation, and air pollution. Additionally, the country’s coastline and marine life have been heavily impacted by plastic waste pollution.

The government has made some strides in addressing these issues by implementing policies and programs aimed at conserving the environment, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable agriculture . However, much more needs to be done to protect Indonesia’s vast natural resources for future generations .

The Most Pressing Environmental Issue in Indonesia – Deforestation and Land Conversion

Indonesia is facing a critical environmental issue that requires immediate attention – deforestation and land conversion. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Indonesia’s forests are home to countless species of flora and fauna. However, rampant deforestation for agriculture, logging, and mining activities is causing irreversible damage to these precious ecosystems.

This not only affects the environment but also the livelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples who rely on these forests for survival. The scale of deforestation in Indonesia is staggering, making it an urgent concern that must be addressed to ensure the sustainability of the country’s natural resources and the well-being of its people.

What are the Negative Impacts of Tourism in Bali?

• Overcrowding Issues

As our world becomes more connected and travel becomes easier, more people are flocking to popular tourist destinations. Unfortunately, this influx of visitors has led to a host of overcrowding issues.

Certain areas simply aren’t equipped to handle the sheer volume of people, leading to increased pollution, traffic congestion, and unsustainable practices. It’s heartbreaking to see natural wonders like the beaches in Uluwatu and national parks in northern Bali overrun with tourists, leaving trails of litter and damage in their wake.

The challenge now is finding ways to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need to preserve these destinations for future generations to enjoy. Can we encourage sustainable tourism practices and limit the number of visitors to these sensitive areas? It’s a difficult question to answer, but it’s one that we must grapple with if we hope to protect these precious resources.

• Environmental Damage

As more and more people travel to exotic destinations, the impact on local ecosystems cannot be underestimated. While tourism can provide much-needed economic stimulus to an area, it can also lead to environmental damage if visitors are not conscientious.

Sun tanning on coral reefs can actually bleach and kill these delicate structures, while littering can overwhelm local sanitation systems and pollute waterways. This is especially a problem in southern Bali and neighbouring islands like Flores . It is important for tourists to understand the impact of their actions on the environment and to take steps to minimise their footprint while still enjoying all the beauty and wonder that our planet has to offer.

• Loss of Traditional Cultural Practices

Balinese culture has always been a source of pride and identity for its people. However, with the rise of tourism in recent years, the influx of foreign visitors has brought significant changes to traditional cultural practices.

While tourism has brought economic benefits to the Balinese people, it has also resulted in some traditional practices becoming lost or forgotten. Sadly, many younger Balinese generations do not have the same appreciation or understanding of their cultural heritage as their elders do.

It’s important for us to remember that preserving these customs and traditions is vital in maintaining the unique identity of the Balinese people. The loss of these practices can result in the homogenization of cultures worldwide, which would be a great shame.

• Increase in Prices

As the economy grows, so does the demand for goods and services. However, this surge in demand has also brought with it a rise in prices. Unfortunately, this means that many locals may find it increasingly difficult to afford necessities such as housing, food, and healthcare.

While it’s great to see our economy thriving, it’s important to ensure that no one is left behind. We must work together to find solutions that allow everyone in our community to access the goods and services they need to lead happy and healthy lives.

• Economic Inequality

Economic inequality has become a growing concern in many places around the world, especially in areas like Bali where wealthy tourists flock for their vacations. The trend of these travellers outbidding local residents for available housing and properties has been on the rise, leading to an ever-widening gap between the two groups.

This inequality can have devastating consequences, such as pushing out long-time residents and making it nearly impossible for them to find affordable housing. As a result, locals are left at a significant disadvantage compared to those who have more financial resources.

• Negative Impact on Local Economy

Tourism has undoubtedly provided financial benefits to Bali, but the extent of these gains is debatable. Unfortunately, much of the wealth generated is not finding its way into the hands of local businesses and individuals, which is concerning.

Instead, multinational companies appear to be reaping most of the rewards. This has created a negative impact on the local economy, as Bali is becoming increasingly reliant on outside businesses for revenue.

As a result, the Balinese are struggling to keep their businesses afloat, which can have significant consequences for the island’s overall economic stability. It is vital that Bali’s tourism industry takes a more balanced approach to ensure that both local businesses and multinational corporations benefit from the tourism boom.

What are Three Positive Consequences of Tourism in Bali?

The effects of tourism aren’t all bad and it’s important to recognise the positive impacts as well as the negative ones.

• Boosting Economic Growth

Bali has been experiencing a significant economic growth boost thanks to the surge in tourism. The influx of visitors has brought in tremendous revenue to the local economy, allowing the region to invest heavily in various infrastructure projects.

The island now boasts modern facilities, high-end accommodations, and top-notch dining options, attracting even more tourists to this vibrant location. With the expansion of new attractions, Bali’s economy shows no signs of slowing down, and the local market continues to thrive. There is no denying that tourism has become a crucial driver of economic growth in Bali, bringing with it endless opportunities for progress and development.

• Creating Job Opportunities

Not only does tourism in Bali provide people with a chance to explore new places and cultures, but it also generates job opportunities for locals. The impact of tourism is particularly profound in rural areas where employment options are scarce.

By providing direct jobs such as tour guides, hotel staff, and drivers, as well as indirectly creating jobs through the demand for local products and services, tourism plays a vital role in sustaining local economies.

• Spreading Cultural Awareness

As tourists flock to new destinations, they bring with them a desire to experience the local culture, to see and understand what makes a place unique. This desire to learn creates opportunities for locals to share their traditions, arts, and crafts with a broader audience, enabling a cultural exchange that benefits everyone involved.

Through tourism, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for the local way of life, while locals are able to showcase the best of their communities and preserve their cultural heritage. It’s a win-win scenario that enhances local culture while creating lasting connections between people from around the world.

About the Author

Victoria is a travel blogger and writer from Germany who now calls Bali her permanent home. She works full-time on her two travel blogs www.guideyourtravel.com  and www.myaustraliatrip.com  and her sites aim to provide helpful and realistic travel advice.

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Bali reopens to foreign tourists, but government rules keep them away.

By Richard C. Paddock and Dera Menra Sijabat

Not a single international flight carrying tourists has landed in Bali, one of the world’s most popular destinations, and none are scheduled, even though Indonesia announced more than a week ago that the popular island was finally open again for tourists.

Arriving foreign tourists must spend their first five days in quarantine, but so far, hotels offering quarantine on the island report that no one has booked a room.

“We have been waiting every day for a week,” said Fransiska Handoko, vice chair of the Bali Hotels Association. “Where are they?”

Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for more than half of Bali’s economy but the island has been closed to foreign tourists since April 2020, leaving many workers desperate for income.

The Indonesian government abruptly reopened Bali on Oct. 14 to tourists from 19 countries who are fully vaccinated and test negative for the coronavirus. But it gave hotels and airlines little time to prepare and included numerous restrictions that make a Bali holiday unappealing.

Hotel operators say they have received many inquiries from abroad, but once they explain the rules, the callers lose interest.

One factor is the required five days of quarantine. Most Bali tourists come for a week, travel operators said, and don’t want to spend most of their visit confined to a hotel room.

“Two days’ holiday and spending most of the time in quarantine is nonsense,” said Wayan Adika, a reservation clerk at Bali Golden Tour, who has been fielding calls from around the world. “They think it’s better to wait until the quarantine requirement is revoked.”

Requiring even minimal quarantine has left Bali at a disadvantage in competing with other destinations. Thailand, for example, announced on Thursday that it would accept fully vaccinated tourists from 46 countries without quarantine starting Nov. 1.

Adding to the cost of a Bali trip, Indonesia will no longer issue free tourist visas. Instead, tourists must pay in advance for a visa that can cost $65 or more and entails a complicated application process.

Another deterrent for families has been a regulation barring children under 12 from entering Bali because they cannot be vaccinated. That rule will be lifted on Sunday.

Tourists arriving from the 19 nations, including China, India and Japan, must arrive on flights directly from their countries of origin. But most countries on the list, especially those in Western Europe, do not offer such flights.

Among those listed is the tiny European country of Liechtenstein, with a population of 38,000. Yet Indonesia excluded nearby Australia, whose travelers once flocked to Bali.

The regulations also are not easy on airlines. Indonesians traveling to Bali from overseas must fly first to Jakarta, leaving only non-Indonesian travelers to fill the Bali flights.

So far, no airline has scheduled a flight to bring tourists to Bali from abroad, according to a Bali airport spokesman, Taufan Yudhistira.

“We hope the government will re-evaluate the regulations,” said Rai Suryawijaya, Bali chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association. “It is not productive when we are open but nobody is coming. If we are really open, we should make it easy.”

Richard C. Paddock has worked as a foreign correspondent in 50 countries on five continents with postings in Moscow, Jakarta, Singapore and Bangkok. He has spent nearly a dozen years reporting on Southeast Asia, which he has covered since 2016 as a contributor to The New York Times. More about Richard C. Paddock

An influx of Russian visitors fleeing Vladimir Putin's war has changed the dynamic in Bali

When Russian influencer Luiza Kosykh draped herself among the roots of a 700-year-old tree in Bali, she claimed she was trying to be at "one with nature". 

In some photos, she is covered in a white sheet, while in others she appears to be totally naked. 

However, two years after she posted the pictures on Instagram, they went viral among Bali locals, reigniting a heated debate about the behaviour of foreign tourists on the Indonesian island. 

The tree next to the ancient Babakan Temple in Bayan Village is considered to be holy by Balinese people. 

However, the 40-year-old influencer — who was arrested on Wednesday — claims she was wearing underwear in the images, and a friend later edited them so that she appeared naked. 

Immigration authorities say Ms Kosykh will be deported tonight, becoming the 59th Russian to be banished from the Indonesian island since last year.

A string of offensive incidents has fuelled a growing resentment towards Russian arrivals in Bali. 

Only two weeks ago, Russian blogger Yuri Chilikin was deported after he dropped his trousers and flashed his naked buttocks on top of a Balinese volcano.

He later apologised and said he would never have recorded the video if he had known that Mt Agung was considered one of the holiest places in Bali for Hindus. 

Badly behaved foreign tourists have always been a problem for Bali.

However, officials say, since reopening to international visitors a little over a year ago, locals have become fed up with an influx of Russians and Ukrainians fleeing Vladimir Putin's war causing trouble in paradise. 

From public nudity and drunkenness, to more serious criminal behaviour, locals say the antics of some Russian visitors has reached such epic proportions that they have simply had enough.

Yesterday morning a Ukrainian man was also deported for working illegally as a photographer.

And last night more than 20 immigration officers swooped on a tourist village at Ubud, where many Russians and Ukrainians live or work online, checking to see that their visas and passports were in order. No arrests were made.

Bali's shifting mood

The tropical paradise has long been a favourite destination for Russians, but the sheer number of visitors now arriving in Bali appears to have changed the dynamic with locals. 

Since President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine last year, tourists from both Russia and Ukraine have sought refuge in places where they can still enter and obtain visas relatively easily.  

In just five months to January this year, almost 80,000 Russians arrived in Bali, along with almost 9,000 Ukrainians.

Russians made up the second-largest group of foreign nationals in Bali last year, second only to Australians.

Before the pandemic started in 2020, Russians were not even in the top five nationalities that visited Bali. 

Many Russian men are undoubtedly flocking to the island to escape the military draft to fight in Ukraine.

While Russians were initially welcomed by the famously friendly Balinese, tensions between locals and some visitors have soured. 

There have also been several incidents in which Russians have been accused of disrespecting sacred sites — including Mr Chilikin and Ms Kosykh's nude scandals.

And a Russian man in January was accused of vandalism after painting an anti-war slogan in large Russian letters along the wall of a residential home near Canggu.

Translated, the slogan said "Body Here – Heart There", which is a common protest phrase used by Russian men conscripted to fight in Ukraine. 

Bali's governor, Wayan Koster, has now asked the Indonesian government to deny Russians and Ukrainians access to visas on arrival, so that they're subjected to closer scrutiny before they gain entry. 

"Why these two countries? Because they are at war, so they flock here," he said last month. 

There are more serious crimes committed by some Russian visitors, including gang-related crime, extortion, drug trafficking and violent assault. 

Allegations of serious criminal activity raises tensions 

While badly behaved Russians have dominated the headlines in Bali in recent months, there are many foreign nationals serving time in Bali's 10 jails, including Australians and at least two Ukrainians.

Just last month, a Ukrainian man and a Syrian were accused of obtaining fraudulent identity cards in Bali, and could face five years in jail if convicted. 

Around 20 Russians are currently in prison in Bali for a range of crimes, but the majority are there for drug offences. 

They currently make up 20 per cent of foreigners in Balinese prisons or detention centres, according to Indonesian authorities. 

Artem Dzyuba was jailed for 8.5 years after he ordered 500 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from a supplier in Canada, and had it packaged and posted to him at a guesthouse in north Kuta, where police promptly arrested him.

Other Russian suspects are still on the run, possibly hiding out on the holiday island. 

Evgenii Bagriantsev, 57, was jailed last year for extortion, after he and a small gang threatened to plant drugs in the home of a businessman from Uzbekistan unless he handed over thousands of dollars in cash and 21 motorcycles. 

Prosecutors alleged in court that Bagriantsev and another Russian, Maxim Zhiltsov, had posed as Interpol officers to threaten their victim and extort money.

They also said Bagriantsev's wife, Olga, had "physically pressured" their victim. 

The Russian Embassy in Indonesia told Russian media it was "aware of the gang's existence" in 2021. 

"In the past few years, the embassy has periodically received messages from Russian citizens that a group of people are operating in Bali who planted drugs," an embassy official said. 

They also said they had asked Bali police for more detail, but did not receive a response. 

Olga Bagryantseva and Maxim Zhiltsov are still fugitives, possibly still in Bali.

For months "wanted" posters were plastered across the island, as police hunted for them and two other suspects.

In February this year, another Russian blogger and Bitcoin trader, Yuri Boytsov, told Bali police he had been robbed by a separate gang of Russian-speakers.

He alleged they entered his villa and forced him to transfer $US284,000 ($426,000) of Bitcoin from his account.

Mr Boytsov said only one offender was caught, and he was deported instead of charged.

'Mr Putin, your people in Bali are very troublesome'

One of the biggest sources of tension between Balinese residents and Russian and Ukrainian visitors is a perception that they are  "stealing" jobs by working illegally as tour guides, photographers, driving instructors and sex workers.

Many locals and foreign tourists post a steady stream of complaints on social media. 

Russian visitors use a Telegram group called "Make Bali Cleaner" to rail against the behaviour of some of their compatriots. 

One Balinese blogger and political activist, Ni Luh Djelantik, recently uploaded an open letter to her Instagram page, addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Mr Putin, your people in Bali are very troublesome," she declared.

"We'll send them home, blacklist them if they abuse their residence permit by working/opening a business, stealing the livelihoods of local residents."

The Indonesian government is still considering whether to restrict entry visas for Russians and Ukrainians. 

While the ABC has contacted the Russian Embassy in Indonesia, it has not received a response.  

Ukraine's Ambassador to Indonesia, Vasyl Hamianin, took exception to the governor's request, saying his people have been unfairly painted with the same brush as some Russian visitors. 

"To put Russians and Ukrainians together, and [blame] them for something that is not proven, is offensive," he said.

"Prove that Ukrainians commit any crime in the scale enough to be banned from visa on arrival. Do not mix Russians and Ukrainians. We are very different." 

In the meantime, local and national officials are considering other ways to rein in unruly foreign visitors. 

Immigration official Barron Ichsan has called on authorities to issue a guidebook for all foreign tourists in Bali, listing everything they can and can't do while they're on the island.

"Not all foreigners know what things are allowed and not allowed in Bali," he told reporters yesterday. 

Bali has also asked national authorities to consider a   ban on foreigners from riding motorbikes, in an effort to crack down on widespread traffic violations.

Late last month, Indonesia and Russia signed an extradition agreement to crack down on transnational crime, a move Indonesia says will help eradicate criminal acts and be a positive move for tourism.

At least one Russian who was sent home previously has since returned to Bali indefinitely.

Artem Kotukhov was deported in 2021, but was allowed back in last year.

A local anti-narcotics agency has publicly confirmed he is now working with them to help Indonesian authorities crack down on drug trafficking by Russians. 

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Indonesia’s tourist hot spot Bali has a $53m rubbish problem

DENPASAR – Over a six-week period this spring, the Indonesian non-governmental organisation Sungai Watch collected more than 40 tonnes of rubbish from Bali’s Jimbaran Bay – traditionally a bucket list paradise known for its grilled seafood restaurants, surf break and idyllic resorts.

The magnitude surprised nobody on-site. Tsunamis of rubbish have become a recurring issue: They wash over from neighbouring Java, the world’s most populous island, during monsoon season each year.

But as tourism roars back post-pandemic, global awareness of the issue is soaring thanks to viral videos on social media and a flurry of news coverage.

“When you have an entire coastline covered with plastic, it is a giant crisis,” says Mr Gary Bencheghib, 28, one of three French-born, Bali-raised siblings who founded Sungai Watch in 2020.

Few destinations are quite as reliant on tourism as Bali, which counts on the industry to deliver more than half of its gross domestic product.

Pre-pandemic, the island saw international visitors swell from 2.88 million per year in 2012 to 6.3 million in 2019, at which point tourism was contributing US$7.8 billion (S$10.4 billion) to Bali’s economy.

Now, in this first full recovery year, Bali Tourism Board chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana is aiming for 4.5 million international arrivals, a figure the island seems poised to exceed.

Those visitors – who come for beach bliss, Hindu temples and luxe resorts on the edges of spectacular jungles and rice fields – may be surprised to find how much their experience can be marred by the island’s infrastructural failures.

Roads are impossibly congested, making for frustratingly long drives while sightseeing, and rampant construction creates noise pollution.

But rubbish is the most startling issue: Without a centralised waste collection or treatment system, the government estimates that 52 per cent of Bali’s garbage is mismanaged. Some 1,000 illegal open dump sites pollute the island’s waters and litter piles up on the shores and roadsides, making waste the single biggest threat to the tourism economy.

So far, local leaders say, the amount of tourism business Bali is losing to its waste problem is impossible to quantify, which may be convenient, since the government has had a difficult time curbing the issue.

On the island, bans on single-use plastics have largely failed, suffering in part from a lack of accountability.

Moreover, in this deeply religious culture, ceremonial offerings have largely shifted from bamboo and banana leaf goods to foods wrapped in cellophane; and they are used during near-constant Hindu ceremonies.

Although Indonesia has vowed to reduce its ocean-bound plastic waste by 70 per cent by 2025, there is a lack of physical evidence of any progress it has so far made.

However, Bali’s reputation and economy are at stake – especially given the luxurious new options on nearby Sumba Island, which is conversely being billed as a pristine haven. 

The $53 million cleanup plan

Sungai Watch is one of the most promising organisations taking on Bali’s waste issue; its teams pull some three tonnes of plastic from Bali’s rivers, illegal landfills and barriers daily.

The group combats river waste – sungai means “river”, and an estimated 90 per cent of ocean plastics come from these waterways – through a village model that provides locals in seven communities with sorting stations, plastic recovery facilities, river barriers and the requisite support staff.

Five more sites are currently in the works. Scaling to this point has been an uphill climb, made possible through sponsors and partners such as World Surf League, Corona, Hilton Worldwide Holdings and Marriott Indonesia.

Mr Bencheghib predicts it will take about 100 village sites to close up all the illegal rubbish dumps in Bali. That will require an investment of more than US$40 million (S$53 million) over the next three years – at a budget of US$150,000 per year per site. With that funding, Sungai Watch could move quickly.

“This is really just disaster relief for the next two, three years, going in and closing every open dump,” Mr Bencheghib says.

The process involves a lot of physical effort by excavators and workers to not only collect and clean but also sort and recycle or reuse the refuse alongside community outreach and education.

Mr Ronald Akili, the Indonesian entrepreneur behind Seminyak’s Desa Potato Head – an eco-village beloved by creative types, with two design-forward hotels, a beach club and restaurants – is tackling the problem from a different angle.

His Collective Waste Centre, set to open in November, aims to reduce waste specifically generated by hotels and hospitality businesses. It cost US$200,000 to build the site, which will be staffed by locals.

When up and running, it will handle organic, non-organic and garden waste from the eight resorts, beach clubs, and restaurants that have signed up so far, sorting that material to be composted, recycled and otherwise diverted from landfills.

Mr Akili says the facilities, if scaled, could reduce resorts’ landfill-bound waste to just 5 per cent from the current 50 per cent. 

Rethinking tourism

Nearby countries offer potential models for Bali. Take the Philippines’ popular holiday island Boracay, which closed in 2018 for six months to repair environmental damage and clean up pollution that came in large part from over-tourism and fast-paced development.

On Bali, six months could mean as much as a US$3.5 billion loss based on 2019’s tourism income, since even the once-slow rainy season is now about as busy as the high season.

As for restarting with a clean slate, tourism head Mr Adnyana says the “Bali area is too big” to stage a shutdown. “Many people will complain.”

To Mr Bencheghib, shutting down would not help. He says the focus needs to be on making sure every village knows how to responsibly handle its waste.

“Stopping tourism will never work,” agrees Mr Akili, adding that during pandemic shutdowns the Balinese struggled to put food on their tables. Instead, he says, “we should shift tourism to be more regenerative and find new ways of doing things”.

One approach may be to take a page from Amsterdam, Hawaii or Venice – all destinations that are shifting tourism management strategies to a lower-density model that caters not to backpackers but to higher-paying (and theoretically, more conscious) travellers.

Bambu Indah hotel owner and environmentalist John Hardy – who moved to the island in the mid-1970s – would love to see Bali’s offerings look more like Bhutan’s, a kingdom whose high-value, low-volume model he calls “a very fabulous solution”.

“They don’t let random tourists in,” he says, referring to the country’s US$200 nightly levies for international visitors. “To go to Bhutan, you have to be full of intention.”

The government agrees, but only to a point: In July, Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that a US$10 tourist tax would be charged to all visitors upon entry starting in 2024, with the earnings earmarked for environmental and cultural conservation.

Local officials have also been petitioning to increase the visa-on-arrival price, currently US$35, by up to three times in coming months.

One man’s trash...

As Mr Akili and Mr Bencheghib work on funding their more ambitious cleanup efforts, both entrepreneurs – and others – are finding ways to repurpose the island’s garbage. Mr Bencheghib, for instance, lives in a tiny home made entirely of plastic bags, a prototype for Sungai Watch’s new social enterprise that is making furniture from the material. Space Available, a pandemic effort from English expat creative director Daniel Mitchell, is churning out attractive clothing, home decor and furnishings only from upcycled and repurposed materials.

Mr Akili, meanwhile, has reduced Potato Head’s waste so that only 3 per cent of the village’s generated waste is going to landfills. He aims for the whole enterprise to be zero-waste by 2028, if not sooner.

A big driver of his success so far has been the construction of an R&D-focused Waste Lab, open to guests, where plastic bottle tops, Styrofoam, oyster shells and other trash become terrazzo-like chairs, stools and kitchen utensils – all designed by such boldface names as Max Lamb, Andreu Carulla and Kengo Kuma.

“The challenge is every day there is a new material that needs to be reimagined,” says Mr Akili, whose team is also working to transform cigarette butts into something people will want to pay for.

“There’s this amazing energy of creation and creativity and, really, the idea that anything is possible here on the island,” says Mr Bencheghib, who is driven to save it.

“Bali is like the protagonist,” he adds, “and we have to fight to clean it up.” BLOOMBERG

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The impacts of tourism in bali.

I’ve got a love-hate relationship with Bali. On one hand, it’s a beautiful island with amazing scenery, lovely locals and an intriguing Hindu culture. On the other, it’s suffocatingly touristy, can feel very inauthentic and has some real problems that are arguably worsened by mass tourism.

Bali has spectacular sunsets and gorgeous views, but it is arguable that a) you’ll be sharing your experience with thousands of other tourists and b) that the way tourism in Bali is set up inadvertedly negatively impacts people there, even if it is not meant to.

Now, I’m not against tourists in Bali – I was a tourist in Bali, after all. I’m against the way tourism in Bali is executed, which has caused a beautiful island to become a tourist trap. After spending five weeks in Bali, I saw some amazing sights. I climbed up Mount Batur, snorkeled in Nusa Penida and explored the rice fields of Ubud and Canggu.

However, I still felt kind of uncomfortable there. Because a lot of the time, you can’t escape the mass tourism of the island, and as a responsible traveler , it left me thinking about the real impact that I had by being there.

The Positive Impacts of Tourism in Bali

Tourism has brought a lot more jobs to the island, many of which are paid better than other opportunities. Balinese employment is now varied, with some people opting to own guesthouses and others doing their own tours of the island. Generally, most Balinese people I spoke to were optimistic about tourism because of the range of employment options that are now available to them. Many Balinese and other Indonesian people have moved to the tourist hotspots to work and send money back to their families.

Economic Advantages

Tourists bring money, and when it’s spent in the right place, it helps the Balinese economy. Because many tourists to Bali are in ‘holiday mode’, they’ll often spend a sizable amount on food, drinks, and shopping. When spent in the right places, this helps the individuals who run the restaurants, guesthouses cafes, etc. Furthermore, as their money is often spent within Bali it strengthens the economy of the island and Indonesia as a whole.

Meeting Foreigners and Sharing Cultures

Globalisation is both good and bad. In a positive light, tourism to Bali has helped locals learn about other countries and has opened them up to the possibilities of remote or international work. Meeting people from all over the globe has amazing advantages, as we can all learn from each other in so many ways, and many people in Bali who aren’t even in the travel industry are now doing a different job, thanks to tourism.

The Negative Impacts of Tourism in Bali

Even without the growing westernization of Bali, it is crazily busy. Bali has a huge population anyway, and then when you take into account the thousands of tourists who descend on the island each year and Indonesians who have moved to the island to work in the tourist industry, you’ve got an island that’s about to sink.

Busyness isn’t something that many people favour when they want a beach break and yes, sometimes you’ll struggle to get a good spot on some of the busier beaches in Bali. But overpopulation has some bigger concerns, especially in places as small as Bali. More people means more traffic (it once took me an hour to drive five kilometres), more development – which can affect the environment – and sadly, more rubbish.

Plastic Pollution

It is no secret that Indonesia has a plastic problem . Not much on the island gets recycled, and because everywhere is so close to the sea, that’s where it ends up – very quickly. It’s easy to forget about the huge plastic crisis that the world is experiencing when we’re offered a straw or a plastic bag – but when visiting Bali or anywhere else in the world (particularly coastal destinations) we really need to be helping the solution, not contributing to it. Sadly, more tourists mean more plastic cups and straws, and more trash in the ocean. I’m not very comfortable contributing to this.

There are also other environmental impacts of tourism on Bali, like the growing need of accommodation options for wiping out protected natural areas. This disrupts the ecosystem and could create a lot of problems for Bali in the long run.

The Dark Side of Bali

Tourism has also introduced some less than desirable qualities to Bali – prostitution, and subsequently, human trafficking is on the rise. The introduction of tourists has also seen the introduction of drugs, which have the death penalty for in Indonesia. You can learn more about these issues – and how to help to prevent them – at Dark Bali .

Economic Leakage

While tourism in Bali has brought more money, a lot of the time it only benefits the owners – who are often foreign. Staff of these big companies are typically not paid that much, and most of the money goes into the wealthy owner’s pocket, who may be from Britain, Australia, the US or any other country – generally a wealthier one than Indonesia. This means that the impacts of these businesses to the Balinese are mainly negative – business is taken away from local competitors, land is taken up, and prices are hiked up for locals.

Cultural Suppression

Balinese culture is one of the main reasons that I love the place. But, due to the overtourism, culture is being more and more suppressed – and it’s really sad. This is one of the negative effects of globalisation – tourists who come to Bali and treat it as their own place, without paying attention to the Balinese way of life, are really wrecking the traditions here. This is a problem all over the world, but out of everywhere I’ve visited I noticed it especially in Bali.

Is Bali Worth Visiting?

Everything being said, I still love Bali, and I still will go back to Bali. I just want to promote the right kind of Bali tourism. There are ways that we can increase the positive impacts of tourism in Bali and decrease the negatives. How? I’ll tell ya…

• Eat at local warungs – not only are these restaurants delicious, and have good vegan and vegetarian options, but they are locally run so the money goes back to the owner, which is normally a family. The prices here are a lot cheaper than what you’ll pay in western restaurants as well. Plus, Indonesian food is great and caters for most dietary restrictions .
• Stay in homestays when possible – Bali is dotted with these. Some are basically locally run hotels, others are local homes. As long as it’s run by Balinese people, it will help them out.
• Take taxi drivers’  tours – many drivers do this as another way of earning an income and find it more enjoyable than driving different people around all day. They are really flexible with their tours and will take you to less touristy places if you ask. If there’s a few of you in the car, it’s a great deal.
• Cut your use of plastic – take reusable straws (you can buy some here), resuable coffee cups (click here to buy) and reusable bags (here’s some)
• Get to know the Balinese people! – English is quite widely spoken in Bali, and the locals are lovely people. They’re always down for a chat, and will love to share their culture and traditions with you.
• See traditional shows – Balinese dance shows are easy to come across, especially in Ubud. There are lots of other ceremonies and rituals, some which tourists are allowed to watch. Having an interest in these keeps them alive.
• Learn about the history and religion of the island – you can do this by visiting some of the many temples in Bali  and chatting to locals about their spirituality and beliefs.
• Head to some less explored places of the island – these areas will be quiet and calm, and a place to experience ‘real’ Bali. You’ll be able to meet some locals here and stay in a homestay.
• AVOID big companies that obviously have their roots in other countries. This includes multi-national hotels, some beach clubs and foreign restaurants and bars.
• Get involved in ethical volunteering, read up about some of Bali’s issues and spread the word about what we can be doing to help. I highly recommend ‘Under the Volcano – The Story of Bali’ ( purchase it here )  to get a good understanding of the island’s history.

Have you visited Bali? What did you think of it? For more ethical travel posts, subscribe to Claire’s Footsteps or follow me on Facebook!

19 thoughts on “ The Impacts of Tourism in Bali ”

Thumbs up Claire for seeing what is happening. Bali by now stinks and sinks under mass tourism who treat the island & take up land as if it IS theirs. Then too, this cannot happen if tourism development is a well balanced arm of government. Alas, it’s AGAIN a corrupt money game, misused by government & foreign investors and overused by long & short terms tourism wrecking it even further. At least most of them.

Thanks for the comment Elisa. I know, it’s really sad and it’s such a beautiful culture that’s being oppressed 🙁 I will still visit Bali, however, and support all of the local businesses and cultures that I love there. I hope you can still find some beauty in the island as well!

I first went to Bali 24.years ago. I then went 9 years ago and again recently. My opinion is that Bali is sinking as you say under the consequence of mass tourism. Attitudes of the Balinese have changed in a negative sense towards tourists. They desire a better life for themselves and their families which is human nature. The main worry of recent is that they can now obtain credit from lenders relatively easily, thus there is more traffic on the roads. I noticed a huge amount of new scooters and cars. They are paying up to 40% interest, private investors can obtain over 20% interest. What would happen if there was a natural disaster like an earthquake or volcanic eruption? Total collapse of the infrastructure leading to the end of tourism for an unknown period of time. These are very worrisome times and I don’t see a solution.

I enjoyed reading your post Claire. My family are visiting Bali in a few weeks and I am using your site to help my IGCSE Geography students understand the good things and bad things about international tourism. Well done

That’s great to hear Neil, I’m glad it’s helping! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂

Wonderful Post. Really, this is the perfect case study for analyzing how tourism impacts indonesia.

Thanks Prakriti!

Thank your for your attention in bali tourism impact. i am a balinese born and rise in rich culture area of ubud and i can say that all your writing are correct. nowadays beside cultural degradation because of mass tourism we also face a land use change where more and more rice field and riverside, green area were change to villa, hotel and other tourism facility. many of balinese aren’t aware of current change, there are feel more satisfied with evoluiton of thing because its easier to make money from tourism. *sorry for my english

Hi Nyoman, it’s great to hear from a local and thanks for your encouraging comment. Yes I completely agree, industries are changing fast in Bali but that doesn’t necessarily convenience everyone and it definitely should be taken more into account. If you have any more ideas about how tourists in Bali can be more sustainable please do drop me an email at [email protected] , it would be great to get some local perspectives in this post. Also your English is really good! My Indonesian is very bad but I try to speak some words when I’m there and I really like the language 🙂

Hmm yes, interesting.

I found your work to be very helpful with my English tourism assignment, Thanks

Glad to hear that!

GIad to hear that!

I am a Balinese born in Kuta and yes these tourism problems are a great deal in my area.

This really helped me a lot thank you!!??

You’re welcome!

Thank you Claire for your analysis..I use this in my geography class to discuss the impacts of tourism industry in Bali..

Glad to hear this is helpful! 🙂

Comments are closed.

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Bali's beaches buried in tide of plastic rubbish during monsoon season

Tourist drawcards Kuta and Legian beaches are being overwhelmed by up to 60 tonnes of plastic rubbish every day

Bali’s famous beaches are being strewn by plastic rubbish in what experts say is becoming an annual event thanks to monsoon weather, poor waste management and a global marine pollution crisis.

Authorities are struggling to keep up with the tide of rubbish washing up on beaches at Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, where about 90 tonnes of rubbish was collected on Friday and Saturday.

Wayan Puja, from the Badung area’s environment and sanitation agency, said: “We have been working really hard to clean up the beaches, however the trash keeps coming. Every day we deploy our personnel, trucks and loaders.”

He said more than 30 tonnes of rubbish was removed on Friday from beaches in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak and the amount doubled to 60 tonnes on Saturday.

The Indonesian government launched a national strategy in April 2020 to combat the “looming crisis” of plastic waste that was affecting the country’s marine environment and economy.

Dr Denise Hardesty, a principal research scientist at Australia’s CSIRO science agency and an expert on global plastic pollution, said there was a “tremendous amount” of plastic currently being collected from the beaches and it was getting worse each year.

“It’s not new and it’s not surprising and it happens every year, and it’s been growing over the last decade,” said Dr Denise Hardesty, a principal research scientist at Australia’s CSIRO science agency and an expert on global plastic pollution.

Hardesty has worked with marine pollution researchers in Indonesia and is one of the experts working with the Indonesia government on its action plan.

The rubbish had likely not travelled far, she said, and there would be many other beaches on the Indonesian archipelago suffering a similar fate.

Bali’s beaches in the southwest tended to catch rubbish when monsoonal rains and winds blow each year from west to east.

But Hardesty said the increasing amount of plastic washing up was in line with the global rise in the production of plastic.

Beaches around the globe were seeing an increase in waste, “but in monsoonal countries we do find a much stronger seasonal affect.”

Hardesty said community groups and individuals were becoming more active in trying to cut the use of plastics and there was a suite of approaches being used to tackle the problem.

CSIRO was also hoping to roll out a new method in Indonesia that uses remote cameras and artificial intelligence to track litter and identify hot spots .

Dr Gede Hendrawan, the head of the centre for remote sensing and ocean sciences at Bali’s Udayana University, said a major problem was Indonesia’s ineffective rubbish handling systems.

“The biggest problem is actually the trash handling hasn’t been effective in Indonesia. Bali has just started to reorganise it, also Java has just started,” he said.

Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster, urged serious action to clean up the beaches which are a huge tourist drawcard.

More than a million Australians visit Bali every year, and the island is also popular with Chinese visitors.

“The Badung administration should have a trash handling system at Kuta Beach that is complete with adequate equipment and human resources so they can work quickly to clean up the trash washed onto the beach,” the governor said.

“Moreover, in the rainy season when there are tourists visiting, the trash handling systems should be working 24 hours a day. Don’t wait for tomorrow.”

Thousands of tourists would normally be in Bali at this time of year, but the coronavirus pandemic has halted overseas travel and there are few visitors.

Indonesia has also closed its borders to all foreign arrivals for two weeks from 1 January in a bid to halt the spread of the new strains of Covid-19.

Bali’s economy has been hit hard by the pandemic which has decimated its tourist industry with only domestic arrivals.

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Tourists warned about big Bali scam

Aussies have been warned about a Bali scam after a woman was deported for committing the act on ATM machines across the island.

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A woman was deported from Bali for installing skimming devices on ATMs across popular resorts, with Aussie tourists warned to stay cautious when using cash machines.

The 35-year-old Ukranian woman, identified by her initials BK, was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison and fined IDR 100,000,000 – about $10,000 – by the Denpasar District Court in 2022.

She was deported from the island last week to Poland over the skimming case, according to The Bali Sun.

A skimmer is a device installed on card readers that collects card numbers which are then replicated into counterfeit cards.

“The BK case is a clear example of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights’ commitment to maintaining state sovereignty and protecting the public from law violations,” Pramella Y. Pasaribu, head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights told the publication.

“We will continue to improve co-ordination with related agencies and strengthen supervision of the presence of foreigners in the Bali region.”

It comes as the latest deportation figures reveal 318 foreigners were denied entry into Bali with 132 not having an Indonesian visa.

Following the ATM skimming device scam, Aussies and tourists alike have been advised to use machines that are within banks or trusted spaces and where possible, avoid using ATMs that are placed on the street.

Travellers should look out for telltale signs such as of tampering or additional readers being stuck on top.

“Look for signs of tampering or features that don’t fit with how the rest of the ATM looks, such as if the keypad is overly raised or looks too shiny and new,” Finder advises.

“Also look out for tiny cameras that could be planted anywhere around the machine (which may be used to capture your PIN as you enter it).

“If you notice any of these suspicious signs at the ATM, do not use it.”

Last year, a tourist revealed how a fraudster had placed a handwritten “broken” sign over the card slot of an Commonwealth Bank machine in an attempt to lure people to use a nearby ATM that was reportedly fitted with a card-skimming device.

“Three or four people came through and went to go use the next ATM over, but I told them the ATM was fine, so they could use the Commbank one,” the traveller wrote in a Facebook post.

“The [man] kept on watching me like he was angry; as soon as I walked away, I watched him put another sign on it.”

Aussies have also been warned about other scams targeting tourists including a “coin scam” .

A woman took to a travel group for Australians visiting Bali on Facebook explaining how a known family, not local to the island, would go around asking Aussies if they can look at their money in an attempt to steal their wallets.

Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said no matter where you’re travelling, being cautious with your wallet and cash was essential.

“Pickpocketing and theft are always a risk in any popular tourist area,” he told news.com.au.

“If someone asks to see your Australian money, an easy response is ‘not carrying any mate – don’t need Aussie currency here.’

“Don’t ruin your trip with paranoia – just exercise sensible basic precautions.”

More Coverage

According to Cover-More, other common travel scams in Bali include taxi drivers and monkey thieves at popular temples.

“Don’t negotiate fares with unofficial taxi drivers as they may use tactics like a broken metre, take a longer route, or charge far above the going rate. Take a reputable, official taxi instead,” Cover-More advises.

Currency exchange scams are also common with Cover-More advising to be aware of “official” looking money exchanges that will advertise a great rate, but offer the wrong change, miscount your money or handover invalid banknotes.

It’s the idyllic string of islands that’s drawing millions of tourists each and every year. But a sinister trend is pushing the region to “breaking point”.

A tsunami alert has been issued after a volcano erupted several times in Indonesia, with more than 11,000 people forced to evacuate.

Tourists have been blamed for destroying an iconic attraction in Hawaii with the site now being demolished as a result of trespassing.

Bali Tourism Tax Generates $1 Million Despite Payment Problems 

Posted on Published: March 1, 2024

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Bali’s tourism tax has now been in effect for two weeks, as the funds generated crossed the USD 1 million mark; leaders are reviewing the program so far.

Based on feedback from tourists and tourism staff, there are already some changes in the works. 

The Bali Tourism Office has confirmed that over IDR 12.5 billion in tax revenue has been collected since the sustainable tourism initiative was launched on the 14th of February.

The new tourism tax requires all international tourists to pay IDR 150,000 to help continue the preservation of Balinese culture, the protection of the natural landscape, and the leveling up of tourism infrastructure. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wonderful Indonesia (@wonderfulindonesia)

All marketing materials and all promo for the tourism tax prior to launch encouraged tourists to pay their tax online before arriving in Bali.

They, they said, would help save time and reduce queues at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. However, since its launch, the Love Bali website and smartphone app have been having nothing but problems. Tourists have been able to unable to load the page, let alone proceed to payment.

With this in mind, the guidance has changed. Although the Love Bali website and app appear to be loading a bit more reliably, tourists are now being encouraged to pay their tourism tax fee on arrival at Bali Airport.

If the queue is too long or they do not have time to wait, it is possible to pay via a travel agent in Bali or at certain hotels. 

Once paid, tourists will be given a tourism tax payment voucher to certify that they have made their contribution.

Moving forward, it is advisable to keep this voucher close at all times in case a tourism officer or Tourism Satpol PP Police Officer asks to see proof of payment. 

In theory, the tourism police will only be conducting spot checks of tourism tax payments once the system has been up and running for three months, though tourists mustn’t be surprised if they are approached by a tourism police officer sooner.

The new tourism police units are out on patrol with their ‘tourist friend’ Kintamani puppies already.

They have even been tasked with chatting to tourists and making themselves available to help. One of the topics of conversation will surely be the newly introduced tourism tax. 

The Head of the Bali Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, told reporters earlier this week, “Checks at DTW (government-managed tourism attractions) will be carried out regularly starting in May 2024, at least once a week, simultaneously in several DTW.”

Pemayun added, “We will carry out regular monitoring, as a form of enforcing existing regulations, to check whether tourists have paid or not. For those who have paid, they will be allowed to enjoy their tour comfortably, and for those who haven’t, they will be directed to make payment at the location.”

It seems that most tourists are not too fussed about paying the extra IDR 150,000 fee; all they want is for the system to be functioning and streamlined.

Local tourism leaders, however, are keen to see that the newly generated funds are put to good use as soon as possible. 

Local politician Gus Wawan has spoken to reporters and emphasized the need for clear rules to organize the management of the levy funds so that the overall objectives can be achieved effectively and jealousy between tourism destinations can be avoided. 

Wawan wants to see tourism villages given as much support as possible to help keep the “Spirit of Bali’ alive and thriving.

He told reporters, “The priority is how to improve tourist villages. That is our target. We want to have direct contact with the community so that there is additional income. It is local but effective. There will be a lot of impact on the community.”

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Sunday 3rd of March 2024

Wawan wants to see tourism villages given as much support as possible to help keep the “Spirit of Bali’ alive and thriving.

He told reporters, “The priority is how to improve tourist villages. That is our target. We want to have direct contact with the community so that there is additional income. It is local but effective. There will be a lot of impact on the community.”

Oh, that’s why the tourists have to pay the tax. Not for environmental and sustainable tourism or for better waste management, no just to generate more income. Probably for the top of the tourist organisations the most

If people’s brain understands only money, the output will be a big mess! It’s a shame that nobody knows where the money really goes!

Saturday 2nd of March 2024

We paid ours online in advance of our arrival on 01 March and printed the receipt/QR code but no one was checking at the airport so I suspect most tourists are not paying it. We weren't asked about it on checking into our hotel either.

@John, I guess staff away due to public holiday.

Troy Arrington

Money will not fix anything, but will see Boshe and chicken fight.

Your naive if think otherwise

Simone kardis

Where does the $50 arrival tax go?

Monday 4th of March 2024

@Exp, clarification: I ref. to the idr 500,000 VOA fee.

@Simone kardis, To central gov. Not Bali.

Mike Croney

Friday 1st of March 2024

Better just to add it to ticket prices like an airport tax. That will be the most efficient way. Nobody knows or what's to download an app on arrival. I hope the funds get put to proper garbage facilities and infrastructure and not squandered.

@Mike Croney, Tax can be added to ticket prices but then locals will have to pay as well. Cannot have that.