Indonesia’s immigration authorities have banned two Dutch nationals for organizing an illegal running event that was accused of discriminating against locals.
The run, organized by the expatriate group Entourage Bali, sparked intense backlash after online testimonies revealed that the club appeared to reject Indonesian applicants while accepting foreign participants.
The two Dutch men, aged 35 and 37, departed Bali for Singapore before the ban was announced and will not be permitted to re-enter Indonesia, authorities confirmed.
Bali, Indonesia’s famed tropical paradise, has become a popular hub for digital nomads in recent years, leading to growing tensions between expatriates and local residents.
The allegations of discrimination against Entourage Bali’s running club have reignited anger at foreigners perceived to be acting with entitlement and forming exclusive communities on the island.
On Sunday, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster pledged to take strict action to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Immigration authorities stated that the two Dutch men violated immigration laws by organizing the running event without obtaining the required permits.
In a statement posted on Friday, Entourage Bali declared that its run clubs are “open for everyone, including non-digital nomads”.
The group noted that Indonesians made up the largest group of participants, holding nearly 25% of the tickets.
It cited “errors in the automated approval process” for its chat groups, which “incorrectly rejected” some numbers registered in Indonesia.
“Entourage was created as a community for digital nomads in Bali to help people new to the island connect with others and engage in activities together during their stay,” the statement said.
“Being a digital nomad is not defined by nationality. Our community includes members from many countries, including Indonesia.”
Entourage Bali announced it is pausing all its events for now and promised to make real changes going forward.
Also Read
- Berlin Pride Attack: Public Outrage Persists as Security Questions Resonate
- Why are thousands of mosquitoes being released in Washington DC?
- University of Abuja Law Student Clinches Top Honors at GIABA West African Speech Competition
- Corning Shares Advance on Expanding AI Fiber and Optical Chip Demand