Bali's digital nomad boom sparks local backlash and immigration crackdown on Dutch running group founders

From fishing village to nomad hub

Canggu lies on Bali's southwest coast and has become what is likely the most popular hotspot for digital nomads on the Indonesian island. Shortly after sunrise, dozens of surfers carry their boards to the beach. Two hours later, keyboards clatter in the cafes of the Balinese coastal town. Programmers write code, designers create logos, influencers edit their latest videos. Between hip cafes, yoga studios, and coworking spaces, little remains visible of the former fishing village. Cranes tower into the sky, excavators dig through the earth, and with each new construction project, more rice fields disappear.

The transformation began gradually and then accelerated rapidly about ten years ago. From a charming fishing village with narrow paths, Canggu became one of the best-known hotspots for digital nomads worldwide within a few years, bringing traffic chaos, noise pollution, piles of waste, and a construction boom.

Local frustration grows

The growing number of long-term guests, mainly from Europe, Russia, and Australia, has caused increasing resentment among locals. Lightly dressed foreigners on rented scooters, without helmets but with surfboards under their arms or dogs on their laps, have become part of the typical street scene, fueling the anger of many Balinese.

A hotel employee named Giri described what the changes have meant for residents.

Everything has changed in recent years, and that makes us sometimes very sad. Our nature, the typical landscapes are disappearing, because almost all land is being sold to rich investors.

She began to cry as she spoke. In 2023, Governor Wayan Koster felt compelled to publish an official code of conduct for international guests, covering everything from respectful behavior in temples to helmet requirements on scooters.

The Entourage Bali controversy

The question of who Bali belongs to has grown louder on the island. There is an increasing impression that expats, foreigners living permanently on the island, are building their own networks, meeting places, and business models in which Balinese sometimes play only a minor role. In July, a storm of outrage broke out over two Dutch men, so severe that the authorities pulled the emergency brake.

The two men had founded an international running group called Entourage Bali in Canggu, which quickly attracted numerous members through social media. Among other things, they organized "Silent Disco Runs" where participants jogged through the streets with headphones. An Indonesian woman reported that she could not register for the group, while her foreign husband was accepted without issue. This struck a sensitive nerve among the population and ignited a heated debate that also made international headlines.

Authorities respond

The two Dutch founders are no longer allowed to enter Indonesia due to alleged violations of immigration regulations and accusations of discrimination. The men had organized events without the appropriate permits, and according to the authorities, the events were effectively open only to foreigners.

There must be no state within a state.

Hendarsam Marantoko, the General Director of the Immigration Authority, emphasized this principle as the reason for the entry ban. The case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate about the presence of digital nomads on Bali and the extent to which foreign communities can operate independently of local rules and populations.