A Bali official has warned local vendors along the Kuta Beach area to stop extorting beach visitors.
The Head of the Kuta Beach Handling Task Force, Wayan Sirna, confirmed that he warned all local vendors in the Kuta Beach area to stop their bad behavior towards tourists.
“We told them last Saturday (4/12) to give the best services for their customers and to avoid doing things that would potentially make the visitors feel uncomfortable,” Sirna said on Monday (6/12).
Sirna had heard many complaints from Kuta Beach visitors who were threatened and extorted by local vendors. Some vendors even charged their customers high prices for a foot massage on the beach.
Sirna ensured that any vendors who attempted to violate the rules would face consequences from the authorities.
“Any tourist who experiences similar things from the local vendors could file a report to the authorities. And, if the merchants are proven guilty, they could lose their merchant card and become unable to run their businesses on the beach,” Sirna added.
However, Sirna still hopes that beach visitors could support the local community by buying and using the services of local vendors to help them survive this Covid-19 pandemic.
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Steven
Saturday 11th of December 2021
First time i ever come to bali, i stayed in kuta and was continually harrased like everyone else. Wasn't impressed with my first experience of Bali and my initial reaction was i didn't like the place. Luckily i visited other parts of the island and got the chance to experience the real Bali, the beautiful side and meet lots of really nice locals. Im sure there are many people who have come to Bali, stayed in Kuta and never came back again. Kuta is a real stain on the image of Bali. I think this is a good idea, hopefully reign in some of the agressive tactics of the shop owners, vendors, hawkers, taxi drivers etc in the Kuta area.
Steven
Monday 13th of December 2021
@Sahir, i agree Seminyaks heading the same way. But there's still nice places, never really had a problem in Sanur, Nusa Dua, Ubud and Ulluwatu.
Sahir
Monday 13th of December 2021
@Steven, now similar shit is around nightclubs in Seminyak, Kayu Aya and Petitenget street. Harassers, drugs sellers, prostitutes, you name it. All the same scum as in Kuta before. Not to mention all the bag/phone thiefs all along Kerobokan, Batu Belig and Canggu. Bali paradise my ass.
Maureen Muntz
Saturday 11th of December 2021
Yes the visa is a con to get money from us im sick of bali
Kolohe
Friday 10th of December 2021
And the new eVisa program isn't a form of extortion?
JR
Thursday 9th of December 2021
What tourist?? I feel so bad for everyone in Bali Their lives have been turned upside down do to the China virus. It is high time China starts helping the rest of the world and feeding the poor. This whole pandemic falls on China and so far they have not accepted any reasonability for anything. I say F China and stop buying all the crap they make there.
Big Balls
Thursday 9th of December 2021
Absolute nuisance get all of them right off the Kuta beach and throw their bull shit merchant card in the rubish bin, very very annoying people. We don't get them at the other beaches Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur etc. Prefer to travel a longer distance to other beaches so can relax and enjoy in peace and still spending some money without getting humbuged. Kuta beach is a absolute disgrace and shame on you for allowing any of these humbugs calling them self merchant's operate on Kuta beach, and talking about disgrace put some rubish bins at Kuta beech what's wrong with you clean up your act.
Sahir
Monday 13th of December 2021
@John, you living in some weird illusion or just blatantly lying?? Any issues in Kuta for years?? Literally half of the time when I stop at Kuta beach some scum offers cocaine and other drugs. Step on the beach and you will be almost ran over by hawkers every 5 meters. And plenty of online reports of thefts and muggings near Sky garden area, year after year, same gangs without repercussion. One helmet thief was beaten to death near the memorial just 2 years ago. Last time when I stopped at poppies lane, right away some schmuck was offering cigalis, marjuana or anything else you could want. Took only a second to have this scum show up. What alternative universe are you living in where the scummiest Kuta doesn't have any problems? What nonsense man..
John
Saturday 11th of December 2021
@Sahir, We havent had any issues in Kuta for years. Back in the early 80s it was terrible for pickpockets and dodgy people but that was cleaned up fairly well in the 90s. We always find those on Kuta beach great.The whole of indonesia needs a clean up. They need to stop rubbish trucks dumping tons of trash into the rivers which ends up in the ocean. Only issue ive had in the last few years were from those working in customs at the airport.
Sahir
Friday 10th of December 2021
@Big Balls, yeah. No wonder nobody wants to stay in Kuta. The noisy nightclubs attracted thieves, drug sellers and other scum to the streets. Beach is filled with most annoying harassing people. And no trash bins in sight as noted. Bali is filled with scum, thieves and trash in the more dense areas. And nobody cares to do anything about it.