Following a string of traffic violations, the governor has announced that foreigners will be restricted to renting cars only.
Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster, has announced that the island will prohibit tourists from renting motorbikes in response to a number of incidents where foreign visitors have disregarded traffic regulations. Effective this year, the changes will require foreigners to rent cars only from authorized travel agencies.
Koster emphasized the importance of tourists behaving responsibly by using the vehicles provided by travel agents and complying with traffic laws, which includes wearing appropriate clothing and helmets, and having a valid driver’s license.
Over the past few months, there have been several accidents, some of them fatal, on Bali’s roads. In one instance, a Russian man was apprehended for drunk driving on his motorbike after colliding with a local driver in March. Both drivers were hospitalized. Two separate incidents in January resulted in the deaths of a Ukrainian and a Russian citizen.
The specific details of the plan to prohibit tourists from renting motorbikes have not been finalized. Bali’s deputy governor, Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, has acknowledged the need for further examination and potential corrections to address issues such as unlicensed riders causing trouble on the roads. Sukawati was quoted in local media as saying, “We need to conduct further studies and make necessary adjustments.”
The potential ban on renting motorbikes in Bali is causing worry about the impact it may have on the tourism industry, especially on bike rental businesses, which were already struggling due to the pandemic.
Governor Koster has also requested that the Indonesian government revoke the visa-on-arrival policy for Russian and Ukrainian nationals, citing concerns about their disregard for local laws and regulations. This comes in the wake of reports of foreigners working illegally on tourist visas.
Russians comprise a significant portion of Indonesia’s foreign visitors, and many have opted to stay in Bali during the pandemic and following the conflict in Ukraine.
