Bali Tourism Sees Significant Growth Amid Rising Foreign Nationals’ Violations
Denpasar, Bali – August 21, 2025 — Bali continues to reinforce its status as Indonesia’s premier tourism gateway, welcoming an impressive 6.3 million foreign visitors throughout 2024. This figure constitutes nearly half of Indonesia’s total foreign tourist arrivals, which reached 13.9 million during the year. Notably, Bali has even surpassed its pre-pandemic visitor numbers, which stood at 6.2 million in 2019, marking a strong rebound for the island renowned as the "Island of the Gods."
Economic Impact and Tourism Revenues
The resurgence of tourism has played a pivotal role in boosting Indonesia’s foreign exchange earnings derived from this sector. Bali alone contributed approximately 44% of the nation’s tourism foreign exchange income, amounting to IDR 107 trillion (around USD 6.69 billion) in 2024. According to Bank Indonesia’s Balance of Payments report, the total foreign exchange revenue from tourism across Indonesia hit USD 16.71 billion or IDR 280 trillion in the same year. This robust performance establishes Bali as a critical indicator of tourism success for the entire country.
Increasing Concerns Over Foreigners’ Violations
Despite the positive growth, concerns have escalated regarding inappropriate conduct and legal violations by a fraction of foreign visitors. The Directorate General of Immigration reported the deportation of 378 foreign nationals from Bali between January and September 2024, up from 335 deportees in all of 2023. These deportations resulted from offenses ranging from overstaying visas and misusing tourist or investor visas, to engaging in work without proper authorization and violating local customs.
Between January and July 2025 nationally, the Directorate General documented 2,669 deportations and 2,009 detentions of foreign nationals, along with 62 foreigners facing legal proceedings since November 2024. Such infractions include resisting law enforcement, involvement in transnational crimes, and disrespecting Balinese cultural values.
Enforcement Measures and Monitoring Efforts
Authorities continue to conduct covert operations to avoid tipping off suspects, ensuring effective law enforcement actions. The Foreigners Supervision Team (Tim Pora) operates at both regional and national levels to coordinate across multiple sectors, monitor social media, and oversee suspicious activities.
Multiple operations such as "Jagratara," "Bali Becik," and "Wira Waspada" have led to the apprehension of hundreds of foreign nationals involved in various illegal activities, including cybercrime and immigration violations. Most recently, from August 1 to 31, 2025, the Immigration Patrol Task Force launched by Minister Agus Andrianto has intensified monitoring efforts, deploying 100 immigration officers along with military, police, public order personnel, and traditional Balinese security guards (pecalang). These teams patrol major tourist areas, equipped with body cameras and other technology, authorized to temporarily confiscate immigration documents from suspected violators.
Challenges in Managing Foreign Visitors
The effort to supervise foreigners faces challenges including the proliferation of unlicensed accommodations that do not report guest data through the official Foreigner Reporting Application (APOA). This gap hampers government monitoring and results in significant tax revenue losses. The Bali Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) has called for stronger regulations and enforcement against illegal lodging providers.
Additionally, issues have arisen from within enforcement agencies themselves. Bali police recently arrested two immigration officers accused of colluding with Russian nationals to extort and assault a Lithuanian citizen through threats of deportation and kidnapping, damaging institutional credibility. Minister Andrianto plans to impose dismissal sanctions on the implicated officers and emphasizes the necessity of integrity and professionalism among immigration personnel.
Balancing Tourism Growth with Regulation
While Bali benefits considerably from the growth in foreign arrivals, officials stress that easing entry must be balanced with stricter visa permit issuance, enhanced cross-sector collaboration, and the deployment of advanced technology to monitor foreign visitors effectively across Indonesia.
Beyond enforcement, capacity building and continuous training for immigration staff, coupled with recognition of outstanding performance, are essential components to sustaining Bali’s reputation as a premier tourist destination while ensuring compliance with laws and cultural respect.
Related Topics:
- Government collaboration to support sustainable tourism development in Bali
- Recent task force operations targeting foreigner misconduct
- Efforts to combat illegal accommodations and strengthen regulations
- Immigration policy updates and visa enforcement strategies
As Bali navigates the complex balance between welcoming tourists and safeguarding local culture and law, authorities remain committed to preserving the island’s allure while addressing the challenges posed by increasing foreign visitor violations.
Add a comment