Rising Crime in Bali Sparks Concerns Over Changing Tourist Demographics
Bali, long known as a tranquil paradise for tourists, is experiencing a surge in crime that is prompting local residents and officials to question whether the character of incoming visitors is shifting—and for the worse.
Increasing Crime Linked to Foreign Visitors
In 2024, Bali police reported a 16% rise in crimes involving foreigners, with 226 incidents recorded compared to 194 the previous year. These offenses span a broad spectrum including cybercrime, narcotics, violent offenses, and property fraud. Authorities continue to investigate several high-profile cases, such as the fatal shooting of Australian national Zivan Radmanovic in the village of Munggu, which has drawn attention to the island’s growing security challenges.
Changing Tourist Profile Post-Pandemic
Local leaders attribute the rise in crime partly to shifting tourist demographics following the Covid-19 pandemic. Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, a Balinese politician, observed an influx of long-term, low-budget visitors staying in proliferating illegal homestays. “The quality of tourists coming to Bali is decreasing,” he stated, noting that infrastructure and local services are struggling to keep pace with these changes.
Paul Werner, an Australian who has lived in Bali for over a decade and owns PaD Bar and Grill in Kuta, also noticed a new dynamic. “Crime generally follows where the tourists are going,” he explained. “It is mainly a lot of drunk Westerners not knowing how to level out their alcohol and fighting over nothing.” Werner provocatively questioned, “Is [crime here] getting worse, or is it the Australians coming here getting worse?”
Concerns Over Organised Crime and Gun Violence
While Indonesia overall boasts one of the world’s lowest crime rates, the appearance of gun-related violence and organised criminal networks is worrying the community. Jan Laczynski, a Melbourne man who lost friends in the 2002 Bali bombings, remarked, “Shootings in Bali are unheard of. In Melbourne, they happen all the time, but not here.” He questioned how firearms could be so easily accessed and whether a criminal underworld was emerging on the island.
Criminology experts echo these concerns. Professor Adrianus Meliala from the University of Indonesia warned of growing organised crime as more foreigners settle long-term in Bali. “It’s close, it’s cheap, and law enforcement struggles to keep up,” he said, highlighting Bali’s appeal to criminal groups from Australia and beyond due to its economic and logistical advantages.
Social Impacts and Calls for Reform
Locals are expressing unease over the increasing incidences of illicit activities including methamphetamine labs, villa robberies, crypto scams, and ATM thefts. Social justice advocate Piter Panjaitan pointed to Bali’s open-door tourism policy combined with post-pandemic economic desperation as factors making the island vulnerable. He stressed the need for stricter immigration controls, enhanced police training, and international cooperation to combat crime effectively. “We need quality tourism, not just quantity,” he urged.
Rapid Development and Community Concerns
The island continues to attract approximately half a million tourists each month, along with a rising number of digital nomads and expatriates. This influx has spurred rapid construction—400 new villas have been built this year alone in some areas like Munggu, often by foreign owners. The swift pace of development has led to the loss of agricultural land and raised concerns over community safety.
Munggu village chief I Ketut Darta noted that violence had been extremely rare in his community until recently and emphasized local efforts to maintain security. “We patrol our village 24 hours a day. Tourism is our lifeblood, and we must protect it,” he said.
Looking Ahead
As Bali aims to welcome a record 6.5 million international tourists this year, balancing economic growth with public safety presents a complex challenge. The evolving visitor profile, combined with rapid urbanization and growing criminal activity, calls for renewed vigilance and strategic policy measures to preserve Bali’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.
The recent rise in crime has spurred a broad reflection among Balinese residents and officials alike about the future of tourism on the island. While Bali remains a beloved holiday hotspot, there is growing consensus that sustainable growth hinges on attracting responsible visitors and strengthening law enforcement to safeguard both locals and tourists.
Add a comment