In brief
Indonesia’s immigration authorities barred two Dutch nationals for organizing an unlicensed run club on Bali that has been accused of excluding Indonesian participants. Authorities also accused the club of discriminatory practices, sparking broader criticism of expatriate privilege on the island. The ban marks a tightening of enforcement against unofficial commercial activities by foreigners amid growing tensions between digital nomads and locals.
Indonesia’s immigration authorities have banned two Dutch nationals who organized an unauthorized running event for expatriates on Bali, sparking accusations of exclusion toward Indonesian participants, the government said on Thursday.
The event, run by the expatriate‑centric club Entourage Bali, reportedly accepted foreign members but rejected local Indonesians, according to social‑media claims that Indonesians faced delays or automatic rejection because of name and phone‑number criteria.
The two men, aged 35 and 37, left the island for Singapore before the ban was announced; authorities said they are barred from re‑entry and have not yet been deported.
Denouncing the incident, Governor I Wayan Koster pledged “strict action” to deter future unlawful activities and “state‑within‑state” behavior by commercial groups, echoing the ministry’s stance on illegal events that violate permit requirements.
Entourage Bali defended its schedule, asserting that the club is “open for everyone, including non‑digital nomads” and that the alleged rejection of Indonesians was a “technical error” in its automated approval system.
The sanitised response mirrors a growing unease on Bali, where digital nomads and locals increasingly clash over perception of privilege and exclusivity as the beach population swells.
