bali tourist driving ban

Governor Of Bali Formally Bans Tourists Hiring Mopeds Directly From Locals

Posted on Published: May 29, 2023

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The Governor of Bali has made a series of announcements that will heavily impact travelers planning their trip to the island.

In the last few weeks, the provincial government has proposed a ban on all tourists driving on the island; following a press conference on Sunday evening, Governor Wayan Koster has taken the first steps in formalizing the ban. 

Back in mid-March, Governor Koster made a series of monumental announcements that proposed changes to the way in which tourists could experience the island.

The first was a proposed revocation of the visa on arrival for Russian and Ukrainian citizen s, which has not been implemented.

The second was the deployment of a task force whose mission is to crack down on foreigners breaking the conditions of their visas by working illegally and operating businesses without a license. 

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The third proposal was, perhaps, the most impactful of all for tourists. Governor Koster announced in March that he wanted to ban all foreigners from driving in Bali.

This proposed policy would include foreign tourists and ex-pats and would ban any non-Indonesians from driving motorcycles or cars on the island. 

Late on Sunday, 28th May, Governor Koster made a further set of announcements, including the first steps in bringing this ban on tourists driving in Bali into law. 

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@lukegalavanting POV: You riding your moped for a month long across Bali. #bali #balitravel #balilife #travel #indo #canggu #canggubali ♬ Paradise – Coldplay

The initial legislative change, as laid out by Governor Koster in March, would require all foreigners to hire a private driver for all their transportation needs. This ban would mean that tourists in Bali could not hire a moped to explore the island, irrespective of whether they had an international or even local driving license.

Governor Koster said, “Those tourists have to travel, walk, and use cars to travel. It is no longer allowed to use a motorcycle or  anything that is not from a travel agent.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Metrotv Indonesia (@metrotv)

This announcement was received with a mix of responses from both locals and frequent visitors to Bali. Some local motorcycle rental owners urged the provincial government to rethink the ban .

Other regular tourists, digital nomads, and ex-pats in Bali began asking how the process would work, noting that in many popular areas of the island, this would trigger extreme traffic congestion.

The ban, in its initial proposed form, would also then make it even harder for tourists to use GoJek and Grab services since these online taxi services are not recognized as formal travel agents. 

On Sunday, Governor Koster called local residents in Bali to play their part in ensuring that tourists obey the rules and regulations of the island.

He said he urged local residents not to facilitate foreigners in committing acts that violate both Indonesian law and local Balinese customs. 

Governor Koster told reporters, “Bali residents are prohibited from facilitating foreign tourists who wish to commit activities that are inconsistent with their visa permits or the provisions of law.”

In specific reference to the hiring of motorcycles, Governor Koster said that local residents who are not formally registered as members of trade agencies or the transportation renting association are not permitted to rent two-wheeling vehicles to foreign tourists. 

This is huge news, both for local people and for tourists. While there are hundreds of companies that are part of the transportation renting association in Bali, there are just as many informal operations renting motorcycles to tourists, digital nomads, and ex-pats in Bali.

These more informal motorcycle rental enterprises provide many families with their basic income and come as a result of huge investments and loans. 

Moving forward, until any further ban on tourist driving is written into legislation, tourists can only hire a motorcycle from a business that is registered with the relevant trade agencies or the transportation renting association in Bali.

Tourists cannot simply rent a motorcycle from a guesthouse owner, local friend, or rental owner who is not a formally registered motorcycle rental company. 

Tourists must also have an international driving license that covers them for driving motorcycles and relevant insurance documents.

Traffic police across Bali are working in conjunction with the tourism task forces to crack down on tourists violating the rules of the road. This comes as part of a bigger, island-wide commitment to establish higher-quality tourism in Bali .

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Saturday 8th of July 2023

Get rid of this corrupt governor.

Saturday 24th of June 2023

So I can still borrow my friends scooter though? As long as I don't "rent" it from him?

I can see many loop holes in this low IQ rule from a low IQ leader.

David Hooper

This is bull$hit, I have ridden bikes in Bali for 10 years and always obeyed the laws, I always wear a helmet, mainly for my own safety, I am always cautious of other road users and in some cases pedestrians. I own my own bike there Vario 150. This is crap that I cannot ride my own bike. You are penalizing all non indonesians, because of the idiots that drive crazy, drive whilst intoxicated and drive without helmets. To be honest why don't you clean up your own backyard as well, the corrupt Polisi that use the tourists to fill their pockets with cash only fines with no receipts. Indonesians that do not wear helmets and or don't have licences, of which the Polisi ignore mainly because they make no money out of stopping them. This is extremely sad that everyone has to be penalized for a minority of idiots not complying. How about 4 or 5 people on one bike, something you see regularly, or the adult wearing a helmet and the child on the bike not wearing anything, I have seen numerous times the Polisi totally ignore them as they ride past. You have extremely short memories, you have just come out of Covid restrictions, where a lot of New Zealanders and Australians helped support Balinese families through this period. It will be easier just to start visiting and supporting Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia from now on. Your loss Indonesia, I have been talking with a lot of New Zealanders and Australians who feel the same way I do. In the last 10 years I have spent in and supported Bali with well over $10,000 Aus per year (100 million rupiah). NO MORE!!! Until the stupid restrictions are lifted!!!

J schneider

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

Theres some very beautiful places in lombok.. love bali but when tourism takes over and $ is # 1.everything changes.. please dont jeapordize your island and its culture for $ . You have the most beautiful people in the world. Be careful what you wish for. Before you know it , it will be to late.

Lombok still rent motorbikes.. i think i will make it my #1 go to destination. Just vist bali for a

‘They’re Disorderly and They Misbehave’: Tourists Banned From Motorcycling in Bali

B ali has had enough of unruly riders. Foreign tourists won’t be allowed to use motorcycles to get around the island after a string of accidents led to injuries and even deaths.

“They’re disorderly and they misbehave,” said Governor Wayan Koster on Monday. From here on, foreigners should only use modes of transport prepared by tourism services that meet certain standards “to ensure quality and dignified tourism,” he added.

It’s unclear how the ban would be upheld. Koster has sought the legal ministry’s support to let Bali revoke visas if any foreign tourists are found riding motorbikes, or if they’re found committing other wrongdoings like illegally working or misusing stay permits.

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The holiday destination has been marred by motorcycle accidents recently. Last month, a Russian tourist was detained by the police after riding while under the influence of alcohol and crashing into a local rider, causing him to be hospitalized. In January, a Ukrainian tourist and a Russian visitor died in a road traffic collision.

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Bali Tells Tourists: No More Motorbike Rentals

Bali’s governor also announced a proposal to revoke visa-on-arrival permits for tourists coming from certain countries..

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Foreigners riding motorcycles without helmets and those driving recklessly are going to be especially targeted in Bali’s crackdown.

Photo by CatwalkPhotos/Shutterstock

Travelers coming to Bali may need to prepare for changes affecting their on-island travel in the coming months. During a press briefing on March 12, Bali governor I Wayan Koster announced foreign tourists will be unable to rent motorbikes to get around the island starting this year . Instead, the governor is urging foreigners to rent cars and use other transportation services “to ensure quality and dignified tourism.”

Koster didn’t specify how the government will enforce the ban on motorbikes or the consequences of such action during the Sunday briefing. However, he said those riding motorcycles without valid paperwork, driving recklessly, using fake Indonesian ID cards, or abusing residence and work permits would be targeted.

“We considered [the decision to impose the ban] according to the security aspect, especially traffic safety, because many foreign tourists are not completely skilled in riding motorbikes and do not have motorbike driving licenses,” Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Wednesday .

The announcement comes after a trend of incidents involving tourists and motorbikes. According to Bali Police’s Traffic Directorate official Rahmawaty Ismail, foreign tourists were involved in 68 traffic accidents throughout 2022. The misuse of motorbikes on the island has been well-documented—in 2020, Russian influencer Sergey Kosenko notably came under scrutiny after driving a motorcycle into the ocean with a friend in Bali’s Tanah Ampo port.

Other controversial laws and bans

Koster also talked about putting other limitations in place during the March 12 briefing, including a plan to revoke visa-on-arrival permits for Russians and Ukrainians after reports of misconduct. The governor said he contacted the Foreign Ministry and the Law and Human Rights Ministry and requested the visa facility be revoked for tourists from the two countries. Koster attributed some of the problems to be with undocumented workers.

“These two are at war, so it is unsafe in their country, and they flock to Bali. Many of them come to Bali, not for leisure, but to find comfort, including for work,” Koster said. This crackdown on undocumented workers follows an announcement made earlier in the year by Bali Vice Governor Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati to oust workers without the proper permits.

But not all controversial laws and bans implemented on the island destination will affect tourists. In December 2022, Indonesia’s parliament banned sex and cohabitation outside of marriage. Governor Koster assured foreign visitors that they won’t be subject to the penalties (which could be up to a year in jail ), saying marital status will not be checked at tourism accommodations, including hotels, villas, guesthouses, and spas.

Current rules for U.S. travelers to Bali

For visitors from nearly 100 countries, including the United States, the Bali Visa on Arrival is valid for 30 days and can be extended only once for another 30 days. It costs IDR 500,000 (approximately US$35) per person and can be paid for with cash or credit card at the airport. It’s valid for tourism as well as for remote workers as long as they aren’t working for clients in Indonesia or getting paid there.

Additionally, those visiting the island need to share proof of COVID vaccination or a vaccination certificate (physical or digital).

Tourism is one of Bali’s largest economic sectors, with around 60 percent of the island’s gross regional product coming from the travel industry. According to data platform Statista , around 1.19 million foreign travelers entered Bali in 2022 compared to 6.28 million in 2019.

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Follow our news, recent searches, ‘they should know how to behave’: bali’s proposed motorbike rental ban highlights tourist misdemeanours, advertisement.

The provincial governor has proposed a ban on motorbike rentals for tourists. He also wants to revoke the visa-on-arrival scheme for Russians and Ukrainians.

Kiki Siregar

JAKARTA: Nyoman Anggraeni, 40, was driving her car in Bali to pick up her son from school earlier this week.

The lane she was travelling in was empty and traffic was smooth. But traffic from the opposite direction was congested.

Suddenly, a motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet came from the opposite direction and swerved into her lane at full speed, almost hitting her.

“I immediately swerved my car to the other side, which was a footpath, to avoid her,” Mdm Anggraeni recounted. She noticed that the rider was likely a foreigner, dressed in a bikini.

“I honked, but she just carried on with a straight face.”

“I don’t get angry or upset easily when driving. But this time, it really angered me as I could have hit her or even someone else,” she added.

With the pandemic easing and international travellers returning to Bali, local authorities are again grappling with inconsiderate behaviour by foreigners. 

In particular, cases of traffic violations involving foreigners have prompted Bali governor Wayan Koster to take matters into his own hands. He wants to ban tourists from renting and driving motorbikes on the Island of the Gods. The proposal has sparked a debate, with some lauding the idea and others questioning if it would be effective.

At the same time, Bali is also dealing with other issues involving foreigners breaking the local laws, which the government wants to stamp out.

Revoke visa-on-arrival scheme for Russians and Ukrainians: Bali governor

Bike ban to tackle disorderly behaviour.

When announcing the proposed motorbike rental ban at a press conference on Mar 12, Mr Koster explained that it was aimed at tackling disorderly behaviour among tourists.   “Why now? Because we are now cleaning up. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was impossible to do because there were no tourists,” he said. 

Mr Koster said the proposed provincial-level ban means that foreigners would only be allowed to drive rental cars owned by travel agents. 

“As tourists, they should act like tourists. They need to use vehicles prepared by travel agents instead of roaming around with a motorcycle, without wearing T-shirts, without clothes, a helmet, and even violating rules and also without a licence,” he said. 

He added that the ban would be in force this year, without providing additional details. 

According to data released by the Bali police on Mar 12, there were 171 traffic violations by foreign nationals over the past week. Out of this, people from Russia accounted for 56 cases.

There have been several high-profile traffic incidents involving foreigners that were reported by local media over the last few months. In January, a 24-year-old Russian tourist was killed while riding a motorbike and plunging 30m into a river in Ubud. Earlier this month, two Russian nationals were arrested in Bali for running an illegal motorbike riding course.

Subsequently, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism Sandiaga Uno told journalists that there are many accidents in Bali because tourists are not adept at riding motorbikes.

Regulations are in place to ensure the safety of tourists, he said. “So if they didn’t have the skills to ride a motorbike and then some got into an accident, whether they were drunk or sober, of course, this needs to be dealt with,” said Mr Uno. 

Mr Putu Winastra, who heads the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies Association, believes that the governor’s proposal is reasonable. 

“Because he wants to keep Bali a safe and good international tourist destination. If a foreigner wants to ride a bike but has never ridden one in his country, doesn’t have a licence, ultimately Bali’s image would be negative.” 

He said that foreign visitors with valid licences and who are familiar with how to ride motorbikes should be allowed to rent from licensed operators.

On the contrary, others like Mr Nengah Sudirga, who owns a rental car and motorbike company in Bali, are against the ban.

“I disagree if it’s prohibited because not all tourists in Bali disobey the rules. 

“In my opinion, it's better to give tourists who violate the rules strict sanctions,” he said.

Earlier this month, a social media clip posted by a foreigner in Bali complaining about the sounds of roosters went viral. He and more than a dozen foreign tourists complained to local Bali officials about roosters crowing at dawn and disturbing their sleep.

Mr Uno, the tourism minister, responded to the complaints by saying that tourists need to respect the law and norms in Balinese society.

He even re-posted a video of one of the complaining tourists on his Instagram and wrote the Indonesian version of the proverb: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".

VISA-ON-ARRIVAL SCHEME UNDER SCRUTINY

It is not just recklessness on the roads that has drawn the governor’s ire. Mr Koster also wants the visa-on-arrival scheme to be revoked for Russians and Ukrainians.  

Bali welcomed about 22,000 people from Russia in January, an increase of about 12 per cent compared to December last year. That month, they made up the second-largest foreign arrivals after the Australians.

Mr Kostner has asked the country’s central immigration agency to revoke the visa-on-arrival policy for them amid reports that many Russians and Ukrainians were working illegally and overstaying in Bali. 

He made the proposal after receiving complaints about misbehaving tourists from the two countries. 

"Why these two countries? These two are at war, so it is unsafe in their country, and they flock to Bali. Some people don't travel for leisure, they go to Bali to find comfort, including work," he said on Mar 12, without elaborating on the purported violations. 

On Tuesday, Bali’s immigration deported a Russian for working illegally. The person was said to have worked as a stand-up comedy artiste illegally and was arrested at an event on Mar 8. Last week, a Ukrainian was deported for falsifying documents to purchase an Indonesian national identity card for 31 million rupiah (US$2,017).

A Russian was also deported last week for working illegally as a photographer. He entered Bali in February with a visa on arrival in February but misused it by working as a photographer. Several other Russian nationals have also been deported for overstaying. 

Living with the enemy: Tropical paradise Bali becomes refuge for thousands of Ukrainians, Russians

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Educating tourists, enforcing the law.

Given the wide-ranging misbehaviours involving tourists in Bali, would a motorbike rental ban and revocation of the visa-on-arrival scheme for particular groups be effective?   Mdm Devie Rahmawati, a social issues researcher at the University of Indonesia, believed they are good initial steps but more needs to be done.

Misbehaving tourists is a problem not just unique to Bali but it is also prominent in other destinations, she noted. According to Mdm Rahmawati, there is a tendency among travellers to head for a holiday without doing research on the local do’s and don’ts. 

She urged the government to do more to educate tourists on local regulations and wisdom. “They should use digital tools, enforce the law, work more tightly with airlines and hotels to guide them on how to behave in Bali,” she said.

Mr I Ketut Ardana, a managing director of tour company BSM in Bali, said that the law should be strictly enforced. “The regulations should be detailed, and the law enforcers should be strict,” he said.

Ultimately, Mdm Anggraeni, who nearly got into an accident with a motorcyclist, believes that not all tourists misbehave.

”We (Balinese) thank the tourists for coming. Not all of them are bad. But if they come to Bali, they should know how to behave.”

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Bali proposes motorbike ban for tourists due to repeated traffic law violations

International visitors are regularly caught riding without a helmet or licence, article bookmarked.

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Bali is proposing a new motorbike ban for tourists , due to traffic laws being repeatedly flouted.

Over 171 international visitors to the Indonesian island have broken traffic laws so far across February and March this year.

Under the new plans, foreign nationals will have to use rental cars as their main mode of transport instead.

The Governor of Bali , Wayan Koster, said during a press conference on 12 March: “Borrowing or renting motorbikes is no longer allowed.

“If you are a tourist, then act like a tourist,” he added.

Foreign nationals are regularly seen riding motorbikes without helmets or clothes, and “violating” traffic rules, Mr Koster claimed.

Others do not possess a valid licence.

The Bali governor has said the ban is being introduced this year because visitor numbers are increasing again following Covid restrictions.

Head of Bali regional police, inspector general of police, Putu Jayan Danu Putra, emphasised the need for ensuring tourists also follow the rules when renting cars.

“We provide education to rental vehicles that will be rented out to foreigners to always comply with existing traffic rules,” he explained.

Bali Motorbike Rental Association chairman Dedek Warjana has raised concerns about the impact this move could have on rental businesses, however, and said tourists and residents should follow the same rules.

“This regulation should be tightened,” he said.

“Foreigners imitate the habits of local residents. Therefore, if there are foreigners or local residents who break the traffic law, it is mandatory to take action.”

There has been a series of motorcycle accidents in Bali which have led to serious injury and deaths in recent years.

A Ukranian tourist was killed after losing control of his motorbike in January 2023.

The following month, a Russian tourist was involved in a collision with a local person while intoxicated.

And in 2022, a British couple broke their backs in a moped crash while holidaying in Bali, while a US travel blogger suffered a brain injury following a scooter accident in 2021.

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Bali wants to ban foreigners from renting scooters and motorbikes as part of behaviour crackdown

Topic: World Politics

One scooter hire owner said his foreign clients had been responsible with their rented scooters. ( Supplied )

Foreign tourists could be banned from renting motorbikes and scooters on the Indonesian island of Bali as part of the local governor's push to crack down on traffic violations and bad behaviour.

Key points:

• Bali's governor wants tourists to only be able to rent cars from travel agents
• He also asked the governor in Jakarta to revoke visas on arrival for Russian and Ukrainian tourists, who he claimed were the worst offenders
• Between September 2022 and January 2023, more than 77,500 Russians arrived in Indonesia

Bali's governor Wayan Koster has asked national authorities to ban all foreigners from hiring motorbikes after a spate of incidents such as abuse of police by foreign riders, failing to wear helmets and using fake number plates.

Mr Koster urged travellers to only use transportation provided by travel agencies.

"So the tourists have to travel using cars from travel agents. They are no longer allowed to use motorbikes or anything that is not from a travel agent," he told the ABC.

Business owners — like Agustinus Winjaya, who runs a scooter rental service — warned it could hurt Bali's economy.

"To be frank, this issue was caused by a handful of people or just one or two tourists, so I don't think you can force this regulation on everyone and assume everyone's broken the rules," he told the ABC.

"We at the rental truly support the police in taking action against tourists who use motorbikes and are reckless on the road, but the problem is actually not from the rental."

Agustinus Winjaya said his business would lose half of its clients because of the law. ( Supplied )

He said some foreigners were irresponsible, but not all of them.

"In my experience, foreign citizens are fine because they haven't caused really significant problems. They will still pay for damages or other things."

Russian, Ukrainian tourists face heaviest crackdown

The move comes after a spate of incidents involving foreigners on bikes, particularly Russian and Ukrainian travellers flouting road rules and working illegally.

Mr Koster asked the government in Jakarta to revoke visas on arrival for all Russian and Ukrainian tourists.

Russian tourists said they would consider moving elsewhere if the rules change.

"If they make it hard to get visas for Russians, Ukrainians, we will look for other places to go. South-East Asia is not Indonesia alone. Thailand has beautiful places," said Russian tourist Alexander Ivanov.

"We can move there. It will be a big loss for Indonesia itself."

More than 77,500 Russians arrived in Indonesia between September 2022 and January 2023 as COVID-19 restrictions were eased, compared with about 88,000 in the same period just before the pandemic.

About 8,800 Ukrainian visitors arrived between September 2022 and January 2023.

Tourists say age limit would solve problems

Paul Harrison, a traveller in Bali from Melbourne, said it would damage tourism.

"If I didn't have the freedom of a scooter to go get my coffee, to go to a local restaurant … that's a little bit too far to walk," he told the ABC.

"You don't walk anywhere in Bali."

He said he knew a lot of younger tourists on the island would drive scooters about, even after going out partying.

"I think personally if you restrict the age limit of someone who can come and ride in Bali, I think you'll find a lot of issues stop," he said.

"A lot of younger people, they always scooter no matter what."

Chris Lyons was surprised to see the traffic conditions in Bali. ( Supplied )

Chris Lyons, a tourist from Canada, said roads were dangerous, and he and his friends had seen a serious accident while out at a restaurant.

"I wouldn't want to be on a scooter. I thought I was going to be on the scooter all the time … in a town that is quiet, you know, I would consider riding it," he told the ABC.

"But Canggu was way too busy, way too crazy."

He wondered how the ban could be fairly enforced.

"How are they going to tell the difference between a tourist and someone that's living here working and that sort of thing?

"It seems pretty complicated and complicated to police it with so many people renting scooters out."

ABC/Reuters