Foreigner Takes to Twitter to Invite International Tourists to Bali amid Pandemic

DENPASAR, KOMPAS.com – A Twitter user which was believed to have been a foreigner posted stories of Bali life, calling foreign tourists to visit the Indonesian resort island amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The stories shared via the @kristentootie Twitter handle got the attention of other Twitter users, making Bali became a trending topic on Sunday, January 17.

The person with Kristen Gray's username said that she went to Bali in 2019 after losing her job in the US. But, she could not go home due to travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Gray, who has been working as a graphic designer, said Bali has made her feel at home. She also enjoyed the perks of living in Bali, including a cheaper living cost as compared to her hometown in the US.

In Bali, she said, she would only spend about $300 on housing, while in Los Angeles, she had to take $1,300 out of her pocket.

Gray called other foreigners to visit Bali despite the Covid-19 pandemic. This viral thread was then criticized by netizens. Most netizens considered Gray’s actions to be unwise because people are still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, the @kristentootie Twitter handle has been disappeared.

Also read: Indonesian Police in Bali Investigate Foreigners in Motorcycle Stunt

However, the viral thread made the authorities from the Bali branch of the Law and Human Rights Ministry take action by sending a team to look for Gray’s whereabouts.

But, an Immigration official said that her name was not registered in the system.
“So far, we have checked our data but no name under Kristen Gray was found,” the head of the ministry’s Immigration Division in Bali, Eko Budianto, told journalists on Monday, January 18.

Eko said that the Immigration office has obtained all the details regarding her address and agent or sponsor when entering Indonesia.

He said that the owner of the Twitter account lives in the Nusa Dua area. The Immigration office is still tracking Gray’s whereabouts. If a violation is found, the Immigration office will take necessary action according to the rules and regulations.

“We will check her immigration document first,” said Eko.

(Writer: Imam Rosidin | Editor: Dheri Agriesta)

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/18/14481371/utas-viral-wna-ajak-turis-asing-ke-bali-saat-pandemi-imigrasi-tak-temukan?page=2.