Tourists behaving badly in Bali still defies belief, even after crackdowns by law enforcement and immigration officials. Solutions appear to be few and far between, and no matter what measures are put into place, unruly tourists in Bali just seem to keep coming. From Uluwatu to Canggu, local authorities have their hands full almost on a daily basis, and it’s beginning to reach a tipping point on the island.
But why is this happening? Why have tourists suddenly begun to ignore local laws, and decided that they have the right to do whatever they want?
No one seems to have the answer. Locals are beginning to push back, and long-term expats are simply embarrassed, as the unruly behavior reflects on all foreigners. Even those that make a point of being the perfect example of the idyllic visitor. Because no matter how long you have been in Bali, be it one week or 20 years, you are still a visitor.
It’s simple really – Bali HAS laws
This is a simple fact that many tourists forget. We are all visitors to the island, and as such, we all need to show respect. This is not only to the local population, but to their beliefs, customs, religion and the authorities that are appointed to police these things. Coming to Bali and doing what you want, acting as you please, and basically taking the law into your own hands has to stop.
And this is where a lot of tourists, especially first-time visitors, seem to get confused. Coming from the highly policed nanny states that many western countries have become, and landing in the relaxed and accommodating country of Indonesia, particularly Bali, is a signal to many that there are no rules at all. And the rules that there are, are not enforced. So, no harm no foul. Right?
No. That is not right. Just because you see a local riding his scooter without a helmet, does NOT give anyone the right to do it. The law is clear, and everyone must wear a helmet. As, and many visitors don’t even know this rule, you must also wear a shirt when riding a scooter. You also must have the correct license, and follow the road rules. Because yes, there ARE actually road rules in Bali.
If you are pulled over for flouting any of these rules, simply stating that no one else is wearing a helmet is not a defense. The rules are clear for everyone when hiring a scooter, yet unruly tourists in Bali continue to ignore them. Every. Single. Day.
I ride a scooter every day in Bali. Lately, I’ve done a lot of riding out and around Uluwatu and Jimbaran, and cannot believe my eyes at the number of unruly tourists in Bali that break these rules. No helmets, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic and almost causing locals, who ARE riding sensibly, to have accidents. Lately, there is one young Bule on a Yamaha XMAX that is riding daily around Jimbaran like he owns the roads, wearing no helmet and instead has a noise cancelling set of headphones on. How can THAT be safe?
If you can’t do it at home, don’t do it here.
The poor authorities have enough to do other than scrape your stupid ass off the road, once again causing traffic problems just because of another idiotic example of unruly tourists in Bali.
Finding solutions is hard
But the question has to be asked. What can be done?
When it comes to riding scooters, I think it has to start with the scooter hiring company. The big companies are good. They ask for your license and passport and everything is done above board. The problem in Bali is that there are too many small, dodgy roadside companies, bengkels and even warungs that will hire you a scooter for a cut price, not ask for any documentation, and not apprise you of any of the locals road rules and laws. Having said that, it is still no excuse for unruly tourists in Bali to be flouting laws that are exactly the same as they are in their home countries.
Authorities and the police could do a lot more. The problem is, they can’t be everywhere. I see so many tourists without helmets that it would nearly be impossible for police to do anything about it. Especially at Uluwatu. Perhaps organised traffic stops and check points would curb these behaviors, but other than that, I don’t see a solution.
Except, of course, for tourists to actually take some responsibility.
Because at the end of the day, it’s about safety. It is scary how full the hospitals are here, and the head trauma unit in the hospital at Sanglah is overflowing with the results of scooter accidents. That’s right, just because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean they don’t happen. And in Indonesia, more people die of road related head injuries than in most places of the world, simply because of the lack of facilities to treat them, and the response times of emergency services on some of the most clogged up roads in the world.
It’s about time that visitors to Bali began to stop thinking about themselves, and putting the safety of others, including locals that are hosting them in their country, ahead of their own.
One thing to remember – If you end up in hospital from a scooter accident, and you weren’t wearing a helmet, then you ARE NOT COVERED!
That “other” Bali problem
This is now where the so called, mostly self-appointed, influencers come in. I saw a wonderful meme the other day that read “I’m old enough to remember when influencers were just known as unemployed”.
That says it all, I’m afraid.
And it’s the unruly influencers that cause many of the issues in Bali.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are some very influential westerners in Bali, and Indonesia, with large Social Media followings that ARE influencers. I won’t single out anyone here, but what I CAN say with certainty, is that these people are doing the right thing. They wear helmets, they follow rules, they have the correct visas, and they promote the local culture.
It’s the others that I’m talking about. We all know them. We’ve all seen them. My message to them is this.
Get it together, or get out. Go home to your own country and let them deal with you. Bali doesn’t need your kind. Let those that respect the island enjoy it without being forced to put up with your crap.
And that crap is usually full of them whining and complaining about Bali. The traffic, the overcrowding, and the (shock horror) rules they are expected to follow when here.
I sat in a food park not long ago and watched a scene play out before me that I still shake my head at. A tourist had parked on the main road outside the food park, which was no problem. The problem came shortly after when the army came enquiring after the owner of the car. The Indonesian Vice President was coming through, and they had orders to clear the road. Politely, they asked the tourist to move his car around the corner.
He refused. It was his right to park there and no one would be able to make him move it.
Not even the Army apparently. Or the Vice President of the country he is visiting.
Indonesia and Bali were here a long, long time before you were born. If you want to be a traveler, then learn to assimilate. Don’t come to a country and expect to ignore their local customs and beliefs, and just do as you please. That’s not how it works.
It’s about time some people learnt that.
Which brings me to another issue that is plaguing Bali lately, and that is those that overstay their visa, or try to start a business when on a tourist visa.
It’s against the law. Read that again. I’ll wait.
What part of that is confusing? Honestly, it’s not rocket science. If you want to start a business in Indonesia, you need to have the right visa. So please, don’t look shocked and amazed as you are hauled through Ngurah Rai Airport by authorities as they fast track your trip home. Don’t cry about being victimized. If anyone is a victim, it’s the Bali people that you have been illegally trying to steal business from.
What is the answer?
So what can be done about unruly tourists in Bali?
Honestly, I don’t know. Raising awareness has to be up there. More policing of the rules, and examples being made of those that flout them would probably help as well. Because most of those breaking the rules will be the first to tell you that they can do what they like, as no one is going to stop them.
Tourists have to know that this is simply not the case.
All I know is that I would not want to be in the shoes of the authorities in charge of making decisions about tourists, and law enforcement. Because as good a job as they do, it is not an easy one!
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