Bali Governor Wayan Koster has announced that the authorities are stepping up efforts to tackle illegal money changers in popular resort areas. He said that cracking down on illegal outlets is an important step towards “high-quality and competitive” tourism in Bali.
The focus will be not only on warnings, but also on on-the-ground inspections and enforcement. The authorities want to involve not only Bank Indonesia and local government, but also the police, the association of licensed money changers, and traditional village communities more actively. This approach has already been used in Bali before: illegal outlets were identified in tourist areas, then sealed and ordered to stop operating.
In parallel, Bank Indonesia has launched a dedicated website where tourists can check licensed money changers, and has opened a channel for reporting illegal outlets through the BI-PATROL system. According to the regulator, there are currently 601 licensed exchange points in Bali, mainly in Badung, Gianyar and Denpasar.
In Bali, it’s best to exchange money only at official money changers displaying a Bank Indonesia licence and QR code. If a money changer offers a rate that looks too good to be true, it’s better to walk away. These are exactly the outlets the authorities describe as the main source of problems for tourists.
Source: nusabali.com
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