In Bali, tourists were allegedly tricked into paying for entry to the free Dreamland Beach (Pecatu, Uluwatu area). A video went viral on social media: visitors were blocked on a path from the parking area to the beach by an improvised barrier and asked for a cash 'entry ticket' without a ticket or receipt. Money was collected in a box - 10,000 rupiahs per person.
The authorities of South Kuta (the district administration that includes Pecatu) conducted an inspection after the viral video was released, but the 'collectors' were not found on site. Officials stated that they couldn't verify the alleged extortion during the check.
The traditional community of Pecatu, which participates in the area's management, highlighted that there is no official entry fee for Dreamland. However, the comments mentioned a practice of voluntary donations (historically associated with vehicle oversight/security), but this is not an 'entry ticket' and is no reason to demand money from tourists.
Community representatives also mentioned the need to organize beach and parking management - including through achieving official tourist site status, ensuring the rules are clear and consistent, without improvised collections at the entrance.
Source: nusabali.com
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