Tourism leaders In Bali want to see a crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides, with claims the controversial practice of ‘zero dollar’ package tours are prevalent on the island.
Asnawi Bahar, chairman of the Indonesian Association of Travel Agents (ASITA) is calling on the Bali provincial government to investigate and take action.
"They are selling very low-priced travel packages and forcing tourists to shop at their stores. They do this in order to make up for the below market price of their travel packages," Asnawi said.
ASITA has held discussions with the Association of Chinese Travel Agents and visited the Chinese Consulate General in Bali to raise the issue.
Zero dollar tours are marketed at Chinese tourists and have hit the headlines in Hong Kong and Thailand with high pressure tactics used to force tourists to spend money at specific stores, with guides often using verbal and physical intimidation.
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has promised to address the problem at a national level with the Ministries of Justice and Immigration.
