Do tourist businesses in Bali treat foreign tourists better than domestic tourists?

[BKT]

Hahaha soo true, I've mastered the hiding and sending in the girlfriend routine, I use to cringe at the thought of buying anything here when I was single, I had friends that could help sure but I use to hate asking them as they've already helped me so much since I've been here.

But to answer the question do tourist businesses in Bali treat foreign tourists better than domestic tourists?

Hell no, not when everything is charged at Bule prices

[mimpimanis]

Many attractions offer cheaper rates to domestic tourists and foreigners on KITAS

One example of a place I checked out online today Bali Fun World charges $15 to International visitors and Rp38,000 to local and KITAS

I took freinds to Tanah Lot last week and same deal.

And the local rate at bali Zoo makes it an easily affordable excursion for us.

Waterbom also has separate rates..

[BoogeyWoman]

Im newbie here, and apologize for my bad english.

its true though. Im indonesian chinese, and I owned a lil shops, and after a year I finally realize why the other shops dont really welcome the local tourist. few days ago this one couple went in to my store, and the first thing from their mouth is "geez, china cloths." of course our goods were manufacture and designed in indo.
they walked around the store, and browsed all the dresses, check the price lists and complains, while I just smile at them and says, its mannufactured in jakarta mam. they looked at me up and down and left.

Its my first time seeing a local tourist in my store.I asked my employee is this thing happens alot? they says yes, only when its local tourists, they will keep on giving a bitter critique, and demanding a lot,asked for a discount, asked for a free gifts, drinks etc. let says 60% of our buyer is from Europe and the US, 20 from Australia 15 from China, Japan, Korea. and the other 5% is from Indonesia, and from the 90% of this 5percent (the local tourist ) all of them shows such an attitude, only 10% of them isnt.

I do notice some store, didnt even bother when they see indonesian went in and out to their store,and some stand up and greet, and says bye bye thank you etc.

its just happened to me yesterday, when I came to dine at this one new renovated restaurant beside the seminyak sq. my partner asked the guy, whats their specialties? they answer this and that pasta, while my partner not into pasta, she asked about the tenderloin if there is a lot of fats in there, the waitress answer her with this "no its not, but look at the price, its expensive" my partner grinned. she take it as an insult, and swear not to come back there anymore.

its also happened when I just came to bali last year for survey, me and partner take a walk at the tanah lot, and we ordered coconut. when i notice the coconut for the local is just a coconut with a straw. and I look around, the foreign tourist coconut is with this colorful flower, lil umbrella, cherry and pineapple decoration. I purposely asked the lady, why's my coconut is different with the rest of the foreign tourists there? she answered me " you didnt asked for those decoration " and she walked away. LOL.

one more time, there is this restaurant at the kuta beach, beside the kartika plaza shopping mall, I asked for a table for two in indonesian language, and the guy talked in walkie talkie if there is any table for two inside there, and the walkie talkie answer this "is that a local guests, or international?" and I asked the guy, "whats the difference between the local and international guests? there's some empty table at this beach front, and none reserve this table, why cant you just seat me at the best seat?" he smile, and says, "of course you can seat there"

since then, I always talked with them in english, its such a shame, but yes, I hate it when they discriminate me.

[ronb]

Thanks for the interesting post BoogeyWoman. You are seeing it from both sides, the domestic tourists coming to your shop and behaving badly, and the local businesses that are behaving badly towards domestic tourists. Its a complex problem - but the more you understand what's happening - the better you can adjust your response.

[BoogeyWoman]

sigh. I went to tratoria today, and they discriminate me and my partner again.

but yes, for foreigner in bali, it must be hard when you need to buy something that you need to bargain, the price will always more expensive for you all.
but look, the balinese in such a way always think, local has no money. and thats why they do it to us. they give us cheaper price but they have no respect to us.

living in bali is such a love and hate.

[pollyanna]

sigh. I went to tratoria today, and they discriminate me and my partner again.

but yes, for foreigner in bali, it must be hard when you need to buy something that you need to bargain, the price will always more expensive for you all.
but look, the balinese in such a way always think, local has no money. and thats why they do it to us. they give us cheaper price but they have no respect to us.

living in bali is such a love and hate.

Bogeywoman, I don't believe this is only true in Bali. I don't know of any country where it does not exist. Many other countries don't have the discrimination in costs and charges but people just seem to mentally need to divide other people into the "we" and "they" categories. So when any of us, foreign or local, are discriminated against we need to realize this isn't a Balinese thing but an attitude of human beings. And I think the best way to overcome it is to smile and be friendly to all people. I'm not saying we should accept the discrimination, especially when it is insulting, but the way we handle our response can go a long way toward changing the other person's perceptions and perhaps we can be the catalyst for change for the next person.