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View all search resultsTourist safety first
As brutal violence replaces petty theft in Bali’s headlines, the island faces a reckoning over public safety. With international travel advisories mounting, provincial leaders must decide if they will protect their guests or continue to deflect responsibility.
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A foreign tourist watches a farmer pour seawater onto sandy fields during a traditional salt production process on Dec. 3, 2025, in Klungkung, Bali. According to local farmers, an average of 5-10 foreign tourists visit the traditional salt production site each day to observe the process and buy salt, which is sold for Rp 20,000 (US$1.20)-Rp 40,000 depending on amount. (Antara/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo)
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ike any other prominent tourism destination, Bali has long had its share of petty crime, from pickpocketing to bag snatching. However, headlines emerging from the island in recent months have shown a more disturbing trend of brutal violence.
In February, a Ukrainian tourist was attacked and kidnapped by a group of foreigners while riding a scooter with friends in the Jimbaran tourist area. An unverified viral video captured the man pleading for help and mentioning a ransom demand. Two weeks later, his dismembered body was discovered by a local resident 30 kilometers from where he disappeared.
While a Nigerian national has been arrested in connection with the case, six other foreign suspects remain at large.
This was not an isolated abduction. Last December, another Ukrainian man was snatched from his car in Kuta by nine armed foreign nationals wearing ski masks; he was subsequently robbed and abandoned. Last month, the violence turned fatal again when a Dutch tourist was stabbed to death while returning to his villa in North Kuta. Police believe the attack was premeditated, noting that the assailants left behind the victim’s phone and jewelry.
That same month, the island was rocked by reports of sexual violence, with two Chinese women and an Australian woman reporting they were raped while holidaying on the island.
Beyond violent crime, Bali is increasingly perceived as a sanctuary for transnational criminals. Experts attribute this to the ease of entry and a perception that the Indonesian legal system can be easily manipulated. This year alone, authorities arrested two international fugitives wanted in Romania and the United States for separate murder cases.
The data reflects this shift. In 2025, Bali Police recorded 5,721 criminal cases—including theft, robbery, assault and drug abuse—marking a 4.7 percent increase from the previous year. According to official records, 225 foreign visitors were implicated in crimes last year, while 339 others fell victim to criminal activity.
