Tag: Behavior

Medellin, Colombia Cracks Down On Unruly Behavior And Digital Nomad Visas
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Medellin, Colombia has undergone quite the transformation in recent years. Once known for its rough reputation, the city has become a thriving destination for digital nomads and travelers searching for an affordable place to visit. Medellin is currently implementing new regulations to attract more responsible visitors and remote workers.

Once a haven for bachelor parties and all-night debauchery, the city’s Mayor, Federico Gutiérrez is transforming the tourism experience. Medellin is looking to attract visitors seeking cultural experiences and more professional digital nomads.

Over 1.4 million visitors arrived in Medellin last year, many of them American.

Medellin and Colombian immigration are now taking multiple steps to let bad behaving tourists know loud and clear, they are not welcome.

The Party Is Over

Famous for its nightlife, the district of El Poblado is filled with countless nightclubs and areas to let your hair down. Arriving in the area of Calle 10 which is known for the infamous Lleras Park, visitors will be greeted by dozens of police, security cameras and checkpoints to the well-known party areas.

The Mayor even went as far as setting a 1:00am temporary curfew on bars to tame the party. The curfew has since been lifted but the message is still loud and clear. “We have to recover control of this area — it is also very important for us to protect the community,” Federico Gutiérrez explained in a statement.

Security is strict everywhere including hotels, nightclubs and restaurants. The Mayor has banned all prostitution it in all popular tourism areas. Large billboards regarding sexual tourism and the exploitation of minors are posted warning tourists of the potential 25 years they could spend in prison. Signs are posted in all hotels and all guests are strictly checked for Identification.

Be Ready For Extra Questions & Background Checks On Arrival

Colombian authorities are now working with the US to catch unsavory tourists before they even enter the country. Arriving in at the International Airport just outside of Medellin, tourists are being asked extra questions about the purpose of their trip and those with criminal records could be turned back under the new ‘Angel Watch’ program.

US Government Warns Travelers To Avoid Dating Apps

Medellin, Colombia isn’t that place to go looking for the love of your life right now. Earlier this year the US government issued a warning that travelers are being targeted on dating apps, then drugged and robbed for their possessions. Even launching Tinder in Medellin, users are greeted with a warning that meeting people could be dangerous amid recent government warnings. The same warning goes for nightclubs and bars. Unsuspecting tourists are being targeted and drugged with Scopolamine.

28 tourists have died in Medellin so far in 2024. This includes homicides and natural causes.

According to Medellin Advisors, the homicide rate in Medellin in 2022 was 15 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. This represents a 3% reduction compared to previous years and is lower than the national average in Colombia, which was 23 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants as of the end of 2022.

Colombia’s Digital Nomad Visa Just Got Harder

Colombia’s Digital Nomad visa has been a huge success for the country as thousands of travelers flocked to the country for affordable living and culture. When the program first launched, digital nomads were raving about how easy it was to be approved if you could provide the following:
- Monthly earnings above $900 US
- Health insurance that covers your stay in Colombia
- Permission to work abroad
Now times have changed and message boards on Facebook and Reddit are filling up with questions regarding extra paperwork that is not the easiest to obtain. The Colombian government is permitted to require any additional information they see fit when reviewing applicants and they are doing just that for almost everyone now. New forms being asked for include:
- Criminal FBI background checks with Apostille
- Official proof of good standing for self-owned companies along with Apostille
- Official proof of ownership for digital nomads that operate their own companies with Apostille
- All Forms must be dated and issued within the past 60 days
Safety In Medellin

While the city has made huge improvements to overall safety travelers are advised to stick to well known tourist areas and avoid walking alone at night. For more information on safety, read the top 7 things travelers need to know when visiting Medellin.

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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June 22, 2024
Why Bali Wants To Change Its Reputation And Deter ‘Bad Behavior’

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While Bali waited two years to welcome back tourists with reduced restrictions, the island was given the chance to restore some balance after its consistent onslaught of tourists showing up at its doors.

Prior to the pandemic, more than 6.3 million people visited Bali in 2019, but when this came to a halt, the country severely suffered since a large portion of its income relies heavily on tourism.

The environment, on the other hand, was able to heal. Sound pollution was kept to a minimum, and the once-congested streets were left bare.

When borders began to open, Bali was again flooded with tourists – but not always the good kind.

In February and March this year, over 170 foreigners broke traffic laws, which included drunk driving and speeding. Motorbikes are one of Bali’s main modes of transport, and with tourists wanting to enjoy the local experience, they opt to rent motorbikes under more lenient rules and with little experience.

Bali provides ample opportunities for tourists to have experiences that they typically wouldn’t be able to enjoy in their home countries since the country takes a laxer approach to certain safety standards.

While the country celebrated the return of tourists after such an impactful closure on the economy, locals couldn’t help but reminisce on the days when things were a little calmer and safer.

In an effort to restore some of the balance that was achieved during the lockout, the government has decided to ban tourists from renting motorbikes.

It seems the country has had enough of the reckless behavior that tourists participate in while riding them, so this new rule will be implemented later this year.

Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, is calling for tourists to act like tourists and use cars booked through travel agents instead of motorbikes.

He explained that some of the bad behaviors on motorbikes involve driving without t-shirts and clothes, not wearing a helmet, violating traffic rules, and driving without a license – which all present safety risks for locals and other travelers.

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Bali is mainly Hindu, and due to its strong tourist presence, the island is known to have softer restrictions, but it is still located within a majority-Muslim country and needs to reflect the mainland.

Earlier this year, Indonesia made the controversial decision to ban pre-marital relations and living together outside of marriage, although it was caveated that this wouldn’t impact tourists.

Even if this law doesn’t apply to tourists, the country is taking a stronger stance on maintaining its traditional roots, despite the presence of rowdy and indecent tourists that have become a staple of the Bali scene.

Tourists have been known to disrespect Indonesia’s more conservative approach, and as tensions rise between locals and tourists, the country is making efforts to have more control.

Last year, the government set an example of two influencers that disrespected the country’s mask mandates by painting masks on their faces in blue paint and entering a grocery store.

The two influencers were widely criticized by locals and foreigners, and officials made the decision to deport them.

Meanwhile, after locals experienced a much quieter period with no bars and clubs blasting music until the early hours of the morning, there have been more recent calls to keep noise levels in check.

More than 8,000 locals signed a Change.org petition last year in the party district Canggu and surrounding areas complaining of noise that was compared to “worse than an earthquake.”

The petition called out tourists for being disrespectful and indecent, with drunkenness, sexual activities, and urinating on temple walls in the area.

Following the Change.org petition, a meeting was called, and officials announced a requirement for venues to limit noise to 70 decibels and close by 1 am, but locals are still waiting to see how these will be enforced since this ruling is already included in Indonesia’s environmental law.

There have been some reported changes in some areas, while other locations continue to play music until late. It doesn’t seem to be just the locals complaining, as certain blogs and articles have popped up asking if Bali is still worth it.

Last year, Bali launched a 10-year visa for tourists, which is aimed at visitors with higher net worth. One of the requirements states that the visa holder must have $128,554 USD in their bank account, while the 6-month digital nomad visa requires $2,000.

With some of these recent changes, it seems that Bali is now striving for an equal medium – a destination that encourages tourists to visit but also respects the local customs and safety standards.

It will be a matter of time to see if these changes will last, but locals are hopeful that new rules and requirements will curb some of the bad behavior that Bali has developed a reputation for.

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March 19, 2023
Zero Tolerance Policy For Bad Behavior On Flights Will Continue With Fines Up To $80,000

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The FAA announced on Wednesday that the zero-tolerance policy for unruly passengers will become permanent.

Bad behavior on planes has been a massive problem for airlines in the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic. Over 1,200 passenger incidents have been reported so far in 2022 and we aren’t even halfway through the year.

Under the now permanent policy, unruly passengers will be fined $37,000 per violation. With the possibility of committing multiple violations in an incident, fines can reach up to $80,000

The rise of unruly behavior began during the beginning of the pandemic. A lot of cases stemmed from the enforcement of the mask mandate, with 800 of the 1,200 already being reported this year being linked to mask enforcement. But it’s more than just the masks, airline passengers have just been behaving worse in general.

Increase In Weapons Found

It’s more than just behavior on planes that is the problem. The TSA is also reporting an increase in weapons and prohibited items during the pandemic. In 2020, the TSA found 3,257 guns and 83% of them were loaded.

That was less than the record set in 2019 of 4,432 firearms, but air traffic was significantly lower in 2020 because of the pandemic, so it’s a higher percentage of travelers attempting to bring these weapons on board. Furthermore, the TSA also found more than 3,200 items prohibited from aircraft cabins, like knives, and for some reason, throwing stars.

Have The Airlines Reacted?

Major U.S. airlines American Airlines, United, Delta, and Southwest responded to the increase in incidents by banning alcohol sales on all flights.

The Alcohol ban was enacted in 2020 and lasted a full two years. Airlines cited these passenger incidents that would involve either verbal abuse or even violence against flight attendants and airline employees. American Airlines actually just became the last airline to unban alcohol as most things travel-related are beginning to go back to normal.

It’s not clear if banning alcohol sales on board made a huge difference. Many of the problem-causing passengers who have been intoxicated on flights had already consumed alcohol in the airport. Some even brought to-go cups from the restaurants in the departures lounges, prompting some airports to ban the cups.

What else is being done?

The TSA has partnered with the FAA to ban unruly passengers from being eligible for PreCheck. Under this partnership, the FAA will share the information of passengers facing fines for unruly behavior with the TSA. The TSA then has the discretion to remove the passengers from TSA PreCheck screening eligibility.

“TSA has zero tolerance for the unruly behaviors, especially those involving physical assault occurring aboard aircraft. We have tremendous respect for airport staff, gate agents, and flight crews that get people safely to their destinations, This partnership with FAA will help ensure the safety and security of all passengers and hold those who violate federal regulations accountable for their actions,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

Last week a federal judge in Florida overturned the US government’s ongoing nationwide mask mandate for public transportation including travel on airplanes, trains, and buses. It will be interesting to see if the number of passenger incidents drops significantly without the need for airlines to enforce the mask mandate. Conversely, maybe the reopening of travel and new relaxed rules will de-stress passengers and bring us back to the pre-pandemic calm we were used to at the airport.

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April 25, 2022