'Exclusive' Foreigner-Only Running Event in Bali Sparks Controversy as Immigration Deports Organizers

A running event called Bali Silent Disco held in Canggu has drawn criticism on social media for being 'discriminatory,' after it emerged that no Indonesian nationals participated. Indonesia's Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, described the event as resembling 'a state within a state,' and immigration authorities deported two Dutch nationals believed to be the organizers. The pair held a worker's limited stay permit (ITAS) and an investor's limited stay permit (ITAS Investor) respectively, and are alleged to have organized activities beyond the scope of their permits — a violation of immigration rules, since foreigners are not permitted to organize activities inconsistent with their visa type. The running club had also reportedly drawn complaints for disrupting traffic on public roads. The organizers apologized via Instagram and denied any discriminatory intent.

This is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, two Russian nationals were arrested on suspicion of smuggling about 7.8 kilograms of hashish, and in February a British national was arrested for allegedly distributing 1.4 kilograms of cocaine. Between January and June 2026, 342 foreigners were deported from Bali for immigration violations, including overstaying, visa misuse, working without proper authorization, disturbing public order, and involvement in fraudulent investment schemes. Meanwhile, foreign arrivals to Bali reached 3.7 million between January and July 2026 — already half of the 6.9 million foreign tourists recorded for all of 2025. The government is also pushing to position Bali as part of an 'Indonesia International Financial Center,' seeking to expand both tourism and foreign investment.

Observers point to a deep-rooted cultural tendency among Balinese to view foreign tourists and investors as economic 'saviors,' which they say has blunted critical scrutiny of problematic behavior. Locals have also voiced frustration over practices where foreign business owners hire only fellow foreigners or exclude Indonesians from jobs they are capable of doing. Last week, Bali's provincial government announced restrictions on foreign-owned businesses (PMA) accessing the online business licensing system for 18 business categories, in a move aimed at protecting local small and medium enterprises. Affected sectors include hotels under 6,000 square meters, motor vehicle rentals, cafes, fitness centers, and management consulting.