Bali introduces new task force to crack down on badly behaved tourists

Aussies and tourists alike better think twice before acting up on the island after officials revealed their latest bold move to combat unruly behaviour.

Aussies and tourists alike better think twice before acting up on the island after officials revealed their latest bold move to combat unruly behaviour.

Aussies and tourists alike better think twice before acting up in Bali after officials revealed their latest bold move to combat unruly behaviour.

Balinese authorities have taken things up a notch in their attempt to deal with badly behaved foreigners.

Earlier this year, Indonesian officials introduced a tourist tax, released a dos and don’ts list threatening to overturn visas, and set up a special task force to monitor foreigners’ activities.

However, people can now dob in bad behaving tourists by calling a hotline number through the island’s latest task force called Bali Becik — with ‘becik’ meaning ‘good’ in Balinese.

The difference between this and other task forces is it has been established at request of the director general of immigration himself — Silmy Karim — while others have been sent out at the request of the Bali provincial government.

“We hope that with the formation of the Bali Becik Task Force, the level of violations of laws and norms by foreigners in Bali will decrease,” he said in a statement, according to The Bali Sun.

A tourist arguing with police after he was pulled over for not wearing a helmet. Picture: Instagram/moscow_cabang_bali

An Aussie woman also seen arguing with a cop over the same thing. Picture: Twitter/akuluka

He said it follows the issuance of 12 Obligations and 8 Prohibitions for Foreigners by the Provincial Government of Bali — referencing the list tourists must follow or risk having their visas cancelled.

Mr Karim said the new task force has a target of 100 immigration control operations every month, adding it will be conducted in such a way that tourism will not be disturbed.

“In the implementation, of course, we also synergise with the apparatuses and other relevant agencies. With this task force, I hope Bali Becik can really come true,” he explained.

The task force will be in effect until December 31, 2023.

Mr Karim claimed there is strong correlation between tourists who behave badly and their level of spending, according to The Bali Sun.

“The main problem regarding foreigners in Bali is the large number of foreign tourists with low spending who often make trouble,” Mr Karim said.

A Russian tourist issued a grovelling apology after he posed semi-naked on a sacred site.

A German woman disrupted a Balinese dance performance at a temple in Ubud while completely naked. Picture: Twitter

“Because Bali is included in the category of cheap tourist destinations, so it attracts thin-pocketed tourists.”

The task force is composed of immigration officials from the directorate general, provincial immigration officials, representatives of the Ngurah Rai immigration office, Denpasar immigration officers and officers from the Denpasar Immigration Detention Facility.

Its aim is to “protect and preserve Bali’s reputation by enforcing rules and regulations”.

Mr Karim recently revealed that Indonesia Immigration has a database containing every violation by foreigners that has been formally reported and recorded.

He noted not all the reported violations are an immediate immigration issue. However, will use it to support other departments, such as the police or transportation offices, should they need it.