Going to the other side of the world with just a few euros in your pocket is a dream that has already come true for many people. As “low-cost” travel becomes the norm, a wildly popular destination is preparing to radically tighten the screws. To clear customs, it will no longer be enough to present a valid passport, you will also need to prove that you are financially sound!
Imagine the scene: you are at the immigration counter and you are asked to show the history of your bank accounts for the last 3 months…. This is the shock measure that this tourist region presents. So the idea would be to ban access to this dream destination for those who do not have a guaranteed minimum balance.
This destination is Bali! Nicknamed “The Island of the Gods” in Indonesia, it welcomed no less than 7 million travelers last year, a colossal success but not without problems. Governor Wayan Koster wants to put an end to vacationers counting every cent according to The Bali Sun. For him, the situation has become unmanageable: “If they only have enough to live on for a week, they should not find themselves staying there for three weeks, without resources and forced to turn to criminal activities,” he said. The objective is therefore to filter visitors on arrival to maintain only “quality tourism”, with real purchasing power.
The official reason is quite simple: Bali is facing an increase in “begging packs” – these travelers who beg to finance their trip – and tourists who, once they run out of money, work illegally or commit petty crimes. This is a situation that weighs heavily on the local economy, because instead of supporting traders, these travelers without resources become a burden on the community, also in terms of security.
The Balinese government therefore intends to require visibility on travelers’ itineraries and their financial capabilities before they even set foot on the tarmac. Until now, the Indonesian island has already started to tighten the screw by implementing a tourist tax and a strict code of conduct to limit incivility.
If the bill passes, it could take effect soon, although no specific date has been set. What is certain is that the era of backpacking without a penny in your pocket is coming to an end on the famous Indonesian island.