Do tourist businesses in Bali treat foreign tourists better than domestic tourists?

[spicyayam]

There is an article in the Jakarta Post that calls for tourism related businesses to treat domestic tourists better.

Anyone have this kind of experience before in Bali?

Research center head Agung Suryawan Wiranatha said domestic tourists made a significant financial contribution toward Bali's all-important tourism industry.

"The Bali administration and the people engaged in the tourism industry must pay more attention to this great potential," Wiranatha said.

"The focus here has long been on foreign visitors, including in promotional activities and services."
Domestic visitors have complained about discriminative services at hotels, restaurants, galleries and entertainment centers.

One such tourist, Lola Hamid, said she had been turned away from a restaurant here because the waiter had told her the food was "too expensive for an Indonesia".

"I was incensed," she said.

"They were so impolite. They thought because we're Indonesian we don't have the kind of money to eat at such a restaurant."

Brigitta, another disgruntled visitor, shared a similar experience.

"So I'm in a boutique-slash-gallery in Kuta when the owner suddenly asks me to leave, and at the same time he's welcoming in a foreign woman," she said.

"It was so humiliating."

Some bars and nightclubs in Bali bar entry to Indonesians.

Udayana's Wiranatha pointed out it was domestic tourists who propped up the island's tourism sector after the deadly 2002 and 2005 terrorist bombings scared off overseas visitors.

"We urge the provincial administration and tourism industry players in Bali to improve their services and promotion to this demographic," Wiranatha said.

[yang peduli]

Actally I tend to believe what Agung Suryawan Wiranatha stated in today's Jakarta Post. Recently I brought some members of my wife's javanese family, who were on holiday in Bali, to Paddy's and were summoned to pay 50K each by a "doorman" in order to get in. Figure some tourist businesses do forget it was domestic tourists who propped up the island's tourism sector after both deadly terrorist bombings.

[spicyayam]

The story made it to the Phuket Gazette:

Some bars and nightclubs in Bali refuse entry to Indonesians.

Some hotels in Phuket did, actively or passively, discourage Thais from booking in the past, but economic factors and rising social rectitude have long since put paid to the practice.

Currently, a number of high-end resorts in Phuket are offering promotional discounts to Thais and foreigners resident in the Kingdom.

[calitobali]

I've never seen a single bar or club refuse entry to Indonesians, but there is the controversial rule in many places that locals must pay an entry fee, while international visitors can get in for free. I'd also say that with those other examples it is more of a matter of personal ignorance on the waiters and staff being rude to the domestic tourists as single examples, rather than the attitude of Balinese tourism as a whole.

[Jimbo]

It is actually cheaper for domestic tourist to book a holiday in Bali as the domestic rate is lower than the tourist one.

[BKT]

Reverse discrimination in Indonesia? kind of ironic. Usually its the other way around. It bugs the crap out of me when I see business's here openly charge foreigners more than locals.

[springer2003]

Reverse discrimination in Indonesia? kind of ironic. Usually its the other way around. It bugs the crap out of me when I see business's here openly charge foreigners more than locals.

Yes there is a fee and or fee with a beer or non alcoholic drink. What was occurring in some locations is visitors from areas like Java, Aceh, Sumatra and the alcholess hills of south sulawesi would enter these bars and order water, sit for hours, take photos of foreigners and basically end up making people and women feel uncomfortable. Off course this did not apply for all but it did occurr on many occasions.

My misses runs a shop in kuta and many travellers from other areas of indonesia comment that the prices are to high, why only short skirts, singlets and they can get cheaper in denpasar to which she obviously tells them to go and sweat it out looking for a 10 thousand rupiah discount for clothing they can purchase in their own Kampung.

Additionaly, i have had indonesian friends not get asked to pay and all depends on the time, who are they with, demeanour, attitutde etc.

[tintin]

Foreigners with KITAS get large discounts in hotels in Bali and throughout Indonesia.

[mimpimanis]

Foreigners with KITAS get large discounts in hotels in Bali and throughout Indonesia.

Maybe at the top end of the market but I generally find in my price range there is no discount. The only hotel I have ever had a KITAS discount at was Richard's Rambutan Hotel in Lovina.

[Datienshi]

Reverse discrimination in Indonesia? kind of ironic. Usually its the other way around. It bugs the crap out of me when I see business's here openly charge foreigners more than locals.

Totally agree with BKT and Jimbo.

Getting the right price here is an exhausting task. I remember on my first month buying a desk for 500k while I found the same quality later in Makro/Lotte for a nice 125k.

To get the right price, one need sharp skills and plenty of free time. But often now I just hide and send my wife to ask first. Having a balinese ask that simple question "how much?" make such a difference.