Would You Still Travel If Countries Asked For Bank Statements? Bali Might...

Bali’s governor is pushing a bold and divisive idea, bank statements for every visitor...

Under a draft regulation called the Regional Regulation on the Implementation of Quality Tourism, foreign tourists might have to present bank statements from the last three months before being allowed into the island’s borders.

Apparently, it is to
> Protect Bali’s economy and culture by ensuring tourists can pay for their stay.
> Reduce visa overstays, illegal work, and law violations tied to visitors running out of money.
> Boost local spending, especially among small businesses.

However, already there are many people speaking out about the proposals online! Some of the reasons why they're against it, include privacy reasons, for example having to show what they've spent and where... Additionally, this could potentially be a barrier for backpackers with lower budgets and or be open to abuse if no fixed minimum amount is clear.

There's some interesting comments on Reddit about it:

"Weed out the begpackers"

"I mean part of me is like thats fair enough, I wouldn't want people coming into my country that couldn't afford to be here for a number of reasons, however..

Its more understandable depending on what country they are coming in from when you look at average wage and conversation rate on currency and than cost of living in that country, there was a reason why it was only getting asked one way around."

"Welcome to what we ‘third worlders’ experience when we apply for a tourist visa to developed countries.”

You can read more on the Reddit > Reddit: Requiring Bank statements - Bali

It is worth adding that this is coming from the same governor who recently discussed Bali’s Possible Airbnb Ban

Two fundamental questions come from this proposal, if you can call it that:

Is it to protect Bali's tourism? Or is it about excluding lower quality tourists in favour of higher quality? "Begpackers" as some people refer to. Also, who will benefit and who will lose, luxury hotels and businesses might love it, but backpackers and digital nomads looking for value may definitely not.

It's also been pointed out quite rightly that there are doubts about such legality of a governor to be able to implement changes to immigration. Watch this space...

Let us know on Social Media what you think!