Is Bali becoming increasingly less attractive for visitors?

Is Bali becoming increasingly less attractive for visitors?

By Simon Marcus Gower

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Three people were recently seen on a
sunny street in Bali, each one in a state of agitation, each one
far from at peace on the island of the Gods.

The first, a figure of concentration riding upon a speeding
motorbike, swerved among the traffic risking life and limb to get
where he was going - or perhaps more realistically to get away
from where he had been. The second figure, one of determination -
running like an Olympic sprinter, his eyes fixed on the
motorcyclist.

He is chasing the motorbike but has no hope of catching up
with the speeding machine. The third and final figure is a sadder
one. Red faced, crying and following the 'sprinter' she trots
along but cannot make up the ground or speed to reach the running
man.

Soon the 'sprinter' has to give up his chase and return to the
sad, tearful third figure. The street drama is seemingly over, as
he tries to console his disconsolate companion. So what drama has
unfolded on this small, normally quiet Balinese street? Sadly,
another crime has been committed. The motorcyclist was the
criminal, snatching the female's handbag from her shoulder as he
rode past.

Breaking the handbag's strap as he did so, the violence of the
action left painful red marks across her shoulder. The thief made
his getaway weaving his way through the traffic whilst
the boyfriend of the female victim set off on an angry
but futile chase.

Other people on this street paused to see what was happening
but few, if any, had enough knowledge of what had happened, or
time, to react and attempt to intercept the speeding
motorcyclist.

Others gathered around the weeping girl to find out what had
happened and perhaps offer some sympathy but the crime was
committed too quickly for anyone to have any real chance of
apprehending the perpetrator.

Was this just an isolated incident?

One would like to think so, but away from the group of
tourists that gathered to console the victim a 'local'
offered a candid observation regarding such events.

This 'local', actually being a Javanese person working in one
of Bali's many cafes, suggested that this was not an isolated
incident.

Over an approximate two-month period he had witnessed the
unhappy aftermath of three other such grab-and-run incidents. The
thieves target handbags or purses left in exposed
positions.

Such crimes may be described as 'petty' but one wonders
whether the tourist victims consider 'petty' the loss of not only
money, credit cards and identification materials but also, very
personal belongings.

The inconvenience of such a theft is considerable but equally
significant is the lasting memory that comes with such an
unpleasant experience.

Memories are an essential element of a place such as Bali. The
happy tourist will go home with good memories, perhaps spread the
good news and perhaps return. But the aggrieved tourist may
spread a negative message and probably be discouraging to
others and be discouraged to return. Sometimes, too, in Bali no
particular crime is committed but a sense of trust and welcoming
warmth in people can be lost.

A couple of tourists from England recently related how
they met an elderly man walking on the beach at Sanur.

Soon they were chatting and the elderly man was speaking of
his family. After a while the man invited the couple to meet his
daughter.

Feeling some sense of honor to receive such an invitation and
not wishing to offend the elderly man, they decided to
accept the invite.

Naive and ill advised perhaps, but soon the seemingly
friendly threesome was on its way to the 'daughter's place' only
to find that the 'place' was in fact a restaurant at which the
couple was duly expected to eat.

Again not wishing to offend, the couple dined only to find
that when the bill for the meal arrived it was twice the price of
any meal they had previously had in Bali.

No particular crime here but there is that unfortunate
breaking of trust that is so damaging.

That couple, though able to laugh off the experience, probably
still retains a rather sour taste when they think back on it. A
taste and an experience that is contrary to what the Balinese
would typically hope for and expect.

Is Bali, then, becoming less of an attractive prospect
for visitors? Surely not, it is still a wonderful place to take a
vacation and relax, forgetting one's woes and the stresses of
everyday life.

But crime and criminality along with some less than welcoming
behavior can certainly dent the image.

An elderly Japanese tourist visiting Bali for no less than the
ninth time can bring a seasoned visitor's assessment. As an
annual visitor he has observed much over these years. Widowed and
enjoying a frugal existence back home from his pension, this
friendly and surprisingly fit gentleman has clearly enjoyed his
many visits to Bali. As he put it 'everything in Japan is so
expensive, Bali is (comparatively) nice and cheap'. But economic
concerns are not the only attraction to this seventy-one year old
as he cycles around Kuta's streets. The friendliness of the
people, many of whom know him and welcome him as a familiar
guest (even friend), has been a vital ingredient for him.

Changes

But in a calm and thoughtful mood at the time of a recent
sunset at Kuta this veteran traveler reflected on how 'things
have changed'. He observed that the street-sellers have become
more numerous in number and that 'bad people' have come to Bali
and changed the kind of welcome that tourists may receive. Most
regrettably for Bali, this multiple visitor ended by questioning
whether he would return to Bali for a tenth time. The changes he
has seen on the island have made him doubt whether Bali will
remain his summer vacation destination.

It may be true that the tourist industry all over the world is
prone to accepting less acceptable behavior from both tourists
and those that serve them. However, even if one recognizes this
phenomenon, this unwanted side of tourism should not be condoned.
Bali is too precious and too unique to be allowed to be tarnished
by the criminality and opportunism that capitalizes on the
unwitting or even willing visitor.

It is probably fair to say that Bali will continue to attract
scores of tourists to its shores but with unchecked criminality
it is doubtful whether there will be many repeat visitors like
the elderly Japanese gentleman. As he cycles around Bali, he
views with some regret the subtle changes he can see in the life
and lives of the Balinese people. Those lingering doubts about
another return visit must be uncomfortable thoughts for this
sprightly old traveler and those same doubts should be
uncomfortable for Bali to consider too.