The Indonesian island of Bali is intending to prohibit foreign tourists from riding motorbikes following a spate of traffic law violations.
Governor, I Wayan Koster stated, “You may not ride motorbikes around the island without wearing shirts or clothes, without a helmet, and even without a license.”
Instead, tourists will utilize vehicles provided by travel agencies.
As tourism continues to recover from the effects of the Covid extinction, the proposal has sparked controversy.
According to local police records, more than 171 foreign nationals violated traffic laws from late February to early March. Additionally, some visitors use phony license plates.
The governor stated, “If you’re a tourist, act like one.”
Lacking a well-developed public transportation system, foreign visitors to Bali frequently prefer to charter motorbikes to get around the island. The two-wheelers are an excellent option for navigating in and out of traffic and traversing picturesque back alleys.
This year, the proposed ban will be implemented via a regional law, but it is uncertain how it will be enforced.
One Ukrainian tourist, who requested anonymity, stated that foreigners should be “allowed” to ride motorcycles if they possess legitimate licenses.
She told, “We don’t use a travel agent because we like to be independent and do things ourselves so we can feel the atmosphere.”
In contrast, Finnish tourist Kristo supports the proposed prohibition. “Many motorcyclists act intoxicated and refuse to wear helmets. This is extremely risky, he told the Indonesian news website detik.
However, some business owners have expressed concern over its impact on the industry.
The chairman of Bali’s motorbike rental association, Dedek Warjana, stated that the proposal was hasty and that authorities should focus on specific violations rather than implementing a blanket moratorium.
Nyoman Sukma Arida, a tourism lecturer at Bali’s Udayana University, believes that a prohibition of this nature could also harm Indonesia’s international reputation.
He stated that the rising number of traffic violations is also indicative of lax enforcement of existing laws by local authorities.
And he suggested strengthening the vehicle rental system by requiring genuine driver’s licenses from renters, requiring security deposits, and taking action against rule-breaking riders.
He stated that not every traveler conducts poorly.
Due to misconduct, the governor also announced a plan to revoke visa-on-arrival privileges for travelers from Russia and Ukraine. Amid the conflict, a large number of individuals from the two countries have “flocked to Bali” but are disregarding local regulations, he said.
In the past week, for instance, several Russian citizens were arrested for violating their residence permits. Some also abused visitor visas to establish businesses.
Before the pandemic, approximately 60% of Bali’s annual GDP came from tourism. Australia was the largest contributor of foreign tourists to Bali in January 2023, with more than 91,000 Australians descending in the province, according to the province’s statistics bureau. Russia ranked second, with approximately 22,000 of its citizens visiting the province during the month.
