Backlash has erupted after an Indonesian senator suggested that domestic tourists should start tipping in Bali. The remark tapped into wider annoyance over expanding gratuity expectations and renewed questions about whether foreign visitors receive better treatment on the island.
Here's what to know
In a video shared on social media, Indonesian Senator I Gusti Arya Wedakarna said Indonesians vacationing in Bali should get into the habit of tipping at tourist destinations, arguing that the practice fits the island's service culture, Jakarta Globe reported.
Because Bali relies on both domestic and foreign tourism, Wedakarna argued, visitors should be treated equally. Wedakarna said, "Foreign tourists are used to giving tips and that's why local Balinese residents are more enthusiastic to [serve] tourists."
More background
Bali Governor Wayan Koster reported that Bali drew roughly 16.3 million visitors in 2025, including 9.3 million domestic travelers and 7.05 million arrivals from abroad.
Wedakarna's comments revived a lingering complaint in Bali's tourism scene: businesses and workers may give overseas tourists more attention because they are seen as higher spenders.
Opponents of Wedakarna's argument say it flattens the reality of who spends money in Bali. According to the South China Morning Post, Ni Luh Djelantik, a Bali representative on Indonesia's Regional Representative Council, disputed the idea that foreign visitors are automatically more generous. Djelantik said domestic customers already pay "service charges" at most businesses, which act similarly to tips for workers.
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She noted that many overseas visitors in Bali travel cheaply, stay in budget guesthouses, buy takeaway meals, and stand in the same queues as locals. Her criticism pushed back against the suggestion that domestic tourists merit less care or appreciation.
Among Balinese residents, the dispute has stirred fears of wider damage: a bruised reputation for the island, fewer domestic trips, and unfair judgments about service workers who rely on tourism income.
What's being done?
Some Indonesians are already urging people to consider destinations other than Bali. Online posts have singled out East Nusa Tenggara and Sumba, saying tourism money there can support local communities as well, the South China Morning Post reported.
Even as his remarks inflamed the debate, Wedakarna said visitors should be treated equally regardless of where they come from.
I Putu Winastra, chairman of the Bali chapter of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies, also rejected sweeping assumptions and argued that Indonesian travelers remain crucial to the tourism market.
Domestic tourists made up the majority of Bali's 16.3 million visitors, and how they are treated could shape both community trust and the future of the tourism economy.
Winastra argued, "You cannot generalize about all 10 million domestic tourists. Many of them do tip—sometimes even more generously than international guests. When we provide service with genuine dedication, guests notice and appreciate it."
Where can I learn more?
Bali's tipping dispute is one more flashpoint in a broader fight over tourism norms and visitor behavior.
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• In Torres, Brazil, locals sparked outrage online after tourists blocked a beach bike lane.
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