Bali hotels told to use app to help government ‘monitor’ tourists

Bali has a bold new plan to crackdown on tourists; the “Foreigner Reporting App”.

Hotels, resorts and other short-term holiday rentals in Bali are being asked to submit guest data to a “Foreigner Reporting App” to help the Indonesian government monitor their whereabouts and activities.

It is the latest move in a series of measures to crackdown on unruly foreigners and increase the quality of tourism on the popular holiday island.

It comes after a hotline was established for anyone to dob in misbehaving tourists, as well as a special task force to monitor foreigners’ activities (Bali Becik), a tourist tax, and a tourist dos and don’ts list.

Head of the TPI Special Class I Immigration Office, Ngurah Rai Sugito, urged use of the app at an event at the Mercure Bali Nusa Dua this week to increase supervision of tourists, according to local media.

He said about 18,000 foreigners come to Bali per day and collaboration was needed “to monitor them”.

“Thanks to reporting in APOA [the app], we can quickly deal with foreigners who commit violations,” he said.

Bali accommodation providers are being asked to use an app to help the government better supervise foreigners while in the country. Picture: iStock

Dr Maria Dharmesti, an expert in Indonesian tourism from Griffith University, told news.com.au while it could seem threatening to Aussie tourists, Indonesian immigration systems were not as integrated and advanced as Australia, so it relied on the community for information our government would already have access to.

She said foreigners’ perception of the app could vary depending on how it was marketed.

She compared two approaches; the app being used to scare people into doing the right thing, or assuring foreigners officials could help them with ease if needed.

Dr Dharmesti said either way the app’s success relied on accommodation providers using it and this was uncertain.

“The Indonesian government relies on the community by launching the app, so they expect participation from hotel owners, accommodation managers, to help them with the data,” she explained.

“If that works then it can minimise bad behaviour, but it’s not 100 per cent. It’s not the only way.”

Bali has been cracking down on tourists this year in the hopes of creating a holiday destination of quality over quantity. Picture: Sonny Tumbelaka / AFP

More than 200 people were deported from Bali in the first eight months of the year, including 12 Australians, compared with 188 for the entire year last year.

Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, general manager of Indonesian operations at Melbourne-born company Intrepid Travel, told news.com.au last month it was extremely important for Aussie travellers to be aware of local laws.

“Now that anyone can report travellers on the hotline, there are several things travellers need to be mindful of to avoid potential issues,” he said.

Mr Singh Shekhawat’s Bali travel tips included complying with all the rules and regulations of the destination like visa requirements, having all the necessary travel documents in good condition to avoid unwanted attention, understanding and respecting the local customs, traditions, and culture, and avoiding confrontations or disputes with locals.

Mr Singh Shekhawat, who lives in Bali, said regular travellers appeared to be “a bit nervous” about the new task force, but he assures people responsible tourists who follow the local laws and respect the local culture, people, and traditions shouldn’t be worried.

Indonesia is the second most popular overseas destination for Australian travellers.