In brief
Indonesia’s immigration authority banned two Dutch expatriate organizers for setting up a run club without permission and allegedly discriminating against local participants. The group, Entourage Bali, faced backlash after social‑media posts claimed Indonesians were rejected while foreigners were accepted. The men, aged 35 and 37, flew to Singapore before the sanctions were announced and will not be allowed back to Bali or the wider country. The incident highlights growing tensions between digital nomads and locals on the island, prompting the governor to promise stricter enforcement of regulations.
Indonesia’s immigration authority has banned two Dutch nationals from travelling to the country after they organised a running event that appeared to exclude local Indonesians. The event, hosted by the expatriate‑focused group Entourage Bali, drew backlash when social‑media users alleged that the club rejected Indonesian applicants even as it accepted foreigners.
\The two Dutchmen, aged 35 and 37, left Bali for Singapore before the ban was announced, and immigration officials confirmed they will not be allowed back into Indonesia. The group had run a “disco” event in May that attracted a crowd largely comprised of foreigners, according to posts on the platform's page.
\The organisers were accused of mismanaging an automated approval system that incorrectly rejected some Indonesian numbers, a claim they rebutted by saying their clubs are “open for everyone.” However, the authorities said they had organized the event without a permit, violating immigration rules and the announcement that such activities constituted a “state within a state.”
\The governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, vowed to take strict action to prevent future incidents, while immigration chief Hendarsam Marantoko stated the run club’s operations fell under the band of illegal commercial activity on the island.
\The move underscores rising tensions between digital nomads and locals in Bali, which has become a hotspot for expatriate communities. Entourage Bali has paused all further events and pledged to make “real changes” moving forward.
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