The authorities of Bali have decided to seriously fight tourists who like to pay with cryptocurrency in hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and other places.
The governor of the island, Vayan Koster, has already been threatened with fines, deportation and criminal cases, writes Antara. The penalty could be up to $1.5 million and five years in prison, depending on the severity.
And the reason was that some businessmen accepted virtual money. Recently, the police found several bike rental and retreat services that practiced this method of payment. This is prohibited by law: only Indonesian rupees can be used.
Judging by the open data of the Сoinmap service, this practice is common on the island. There are 70 points where you can pay with bitcoins. These are cafes, hotels, computer clubs, shops, and travel agencies. For comparison, there are only five such places in Turkish Antalya, two companies in Egyptian Hurghada, and 19 in the UAE.
The authorities of the island actively began to restore order in the tourism sector this year. A few days ago, a special group was created in Bali where residents can complain about tourists. The governor of the province in early May even proposed introducing quotas for the entry of foreigners.