Travellers Would Not be Able to Do This in Bali Anymore

In lieu of reforming tourism, Indonesia has initiated a new audit on the tropical islands of Indonesia and Bali. This has been done to improve tourism quality and preserve the local culture and indigenous arts.  According to reports published on the internet, close to about 200,000 foreigners reside in Bali, which has led to issues related to crimes, development, and competition for employment for local residents.

Luhut Pandjaitan, a senior minister who oversees Tourism in Bali, said so on his Instagram page.  The minister expressed his aggressive views on the subject and spoke about how Indonesia would take strong actions against any traveller or any local who would get involved in Narcotics, Gangs and all the other similar issues presently on the rise.  Any foreign tourists who get involved in issues related to Narcotics Gangs and any different type of misconduct would be deported from Indonesia, said the Minister.

According to Indonesia's statistics, 2.9 million foreigners entered Bali through Indonesia in the first half of the year. This accounted for 65% of Indonesia's total foreign arrivals by air for the period.

The Indonesian ministry has been pursuing reforms in the institutions and their behaviour regarding tourism. Tourism Minister Sandiaga spoke about the same issue earlier this year and said that the government seeks to avoid "a situation like Barcelona" where the tourists became public enemies.

Further, the government also shared ideas about how they plan to initiate institutional reforms to tackle issues related to trash disposal on the island.  The main aim is to prevent further overdevelopment to support tourism.

"We don't want to see paddy fields become a villa or a nude club," he said. "For us, quality is more important than numbers."

The ministers further discussed Nudity on the beaches and said that Public Nudity is illegal in Bali, and clarified that there are no strip clubs in Bali. The government also shared ideas about how it plans to reform tourism in Bali.

While these changes would only make travelling much easier, here are a few essential things about Bali that every traveller should know.

Bali's driving customs differ significantly from those of other countries, so being vigilant while riding your rental scooters and cars is necessary. Road accidents involving scooters are pretty common in Bali, so it's essential to ensure that you ride safely without any major problems. As a tourist, it's only evident that you would not be familiar with the routes around; hence, it's essential to ensure that you drive safely without any major issues. Other issues you should pay heed to as a traveller while visiting Bali are as follows: 

Sudden Weather Changes

Bali is known for its sudden weather changes, so carrying an umbrella might be the best possible prevention that we can suggest.

Local Taxis and Services

While most travellers do not face any issues with cab drivers and cab services in Bali, in certain cases, taxi service providers in Bali have swindled money or scammed tourists. Hence, it's essential to hire vehicles only from the most reputed providers or ask trip managers to do the same. Managing a bargain while renting cars should not be your priority when travelling alone.

Petty Scams

Bali is not immune to petty scams in the market like every other travelling destination. These commonly involve overcharging, misleading information, and taxi scams such as additional driving by taking a longer route. So it would be vital that you research well. In case you are taking a taxi, ensure that you research the route well before hiring a taxi. Also, research fair prices, and beware and be vigilant about any deals that seem too good to be true.

Health Issues

One of the most common issues that travellers face while travelling to Bali is an upset stomach. So beware of what you eat. If you are a full vegetarian, the best bet is to depend on the fruits and vegetables available in the market. Carrying a few common flu and stomach medicines is advised.

Travel Insurance

Travel and baggage insurance is a must when travelling abroad; it will help you have peace of mind while travelling. While taking insurance, also choose insurance deals that cover medical expenses for any health issue and medicinal services in Bali. Comprehensive insurance is always a better entity to spend at rather than an extension of a few more days in BALI.

The statistics showcase petty thefts and pickpocketing as some of the most reported crimes in Bali; hence, we recommend keeping your passports safe in hotel room vaults. Further, ensure that you carry around slash-proof bags and packs for safety while in transit. For any travellers that might face issues, Bali has a particular tourist police force. 

to ensure direct actions as and when necessary. The Bali Tourist Police number is 0361-754599. You can also memorize the police number 110 in Bali, Ambulance number 118, and search and rescue number 115.

As a tourist, it is imperative to be culturally sensitive to the values of locals. Dress modestly while visiting temples and follow all local rules and regulations. Learning a few basic local language phrases would prove useful while travelling.

Travelling is a pursuit that should lead to relaxation and learning. Hence, at RenTrip, we ensure that our users do not face any issues regarding mobility and can travel freely without any issues or problems. We follow a rigorous code of conduct to ensure that none of our renters face any problems during the rental process. Mobility is an essential need, and we ensure that our users get the vehicle of their choice and need with ease in the shortest durations possible.