Officials in Bali have launched a new task force to crack down on unruly travellers — the new initiative is set to target at least 100 tourists a month.
Indonesia’s Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, announced the formation of a group that is dedicated to clamping down on badly-behaved tourists in Indonesia.
The new team will be known as the Bali Becik Task Force — and Mr Karim has set a target of at least 100 immigration control operations a month, which would include fines and even deportations.
Included with the initiative is a new hotline number, which residents have been invited to formally report complaints against foreigners who violate community norms.
The Director General also said there was a strong correlation between badly behaved tourists and shallow pockets — meaning problematic foreigners often weren’t spending enough money.
According to Mr Karim, the main problem regarding visitors is the “low-spending tourists who often make trouble.”
“Because Bali is included in the category of cheap tourist destinations, so it attracts thin-pocketed tourists,” he said.
An expat living in Indonesia — who does not wish to be named for fear of deportation — has warned the new task force has made the destination “an extremely dangerous place”.
“My belief is Bali is an extremely dangerous place to be at the moment,” he told The West.
The 47-year-old — who has lived on the island on and off for fifteen years — believes it has “severe implications for foreigners who live in or visit Bali”.
“The implications to this latest initiative is that locals will now be dobbing in as many foreigners as possible.
“One set of laws for Indonesians and another entirely different set of laws for foreigners.”
Bali Officials have taken a string of measures this year to subdue badly behaved travellers, including a list of do’s and ‘don’ts issued to people upon arrival into the country.
The dos and don’ts list outlaws activities such as driving dangerously, climbing on mountains and touching sacred trees.
While it has a reputation as a party island, Bali is deeply conservative, it also introduced a campaign in March which targeted tourists wearing skimpy clothing and a “bonk ban”.
The island also scrapped visa-free travel for Australians in June, and declared that Aussie tourists will need to fork out to visit Bali for the foreseeable future.
Before that, Australians could enter the country visa-free for 30 days.
Earlier this month an AirAsia flight bound for Bali was grounded at Perth Airport after two drunk men had to be dragged off the plane by security.
One of the men blamed his behaviour on a bottle of Jameson’s.
The 20 and 29-year-old were fined $500 for their behaviour and were able to board a replacement flight the next day.