If the crimes in Bali extend, the locals ask themselves: “Are the tourists here?” | Bali

TThe population group of tourists who visit Bali has changed since the pandemic, say the residents with a wave of backpackers, digital nomads and expats that create the conditions for a criminal lower abdomen to thrive on the Indonesian island, which are famous for its peace ability.

The politician of Bali, Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, said that in the years he had recorded long-term visitors with low budgets since the Covid 19 pandemic and that local facilities and infrastructures run for the step.

“The quality of the tourists who come to Bali decreases. This is due to the fast growth of illegal host families that enable foreigners with low budget to stay longer in Bali,” he said.

Paul Werner, owner of PAD Bar and Grill in Kuta, who has lived and brought up a family in Bali in the past 10 years, agreed that there had been a change since Covid, with a flood of money coming to the island.

“Crime generally follows where the tourists go. It is mainly a lot of drunk Westerners who do not know how to empty their alcohol and fight for nothing,” said Werner, who lived in Adelaide before moving to Bali.

“Is [crime here] Get worse or the Australians come here? “

In June, the island was shaken by Melbourne's fatal shootout, Zivan Radmanovic (32), after men allegedly stormed his villa in MungGu, his wife hiding inside. The Balinese police, who charged three Australians for murder and claim that the killing was deliberately, said they are still investigating.

When asked whether it was possible that Radmanovic was not the intended goal, a spokesman for Bali Police reported that detectives were still “investigating this”.

“It is close, it's cheap”

Balis connection with Australia has long been impressed by the Australians, but sometimes also shaded by drugs and crime – from surfing smuggles to finance their expeditions to the exams against Schapelle Corby and Bali Nine.

Melbourne man Jan Laczynski, who lost five friends in the Bali bombings in 2002, said most locals and tourists still felt safe, but he believed that the organized crime became more visible.

“Shooting on Bali are unknown. In Melbourne they pass all the time, but not here,” he said. “People ask how they got their weapons at all. Is there an underworld market?”

Indonesia has one of the lowest crime rates worldwide. According to the Indonesian central statistics authority, only three crimes related to firearms in Bali were recorded in 2023. From 2017, the murder quota in Indonesia was 0.4 per 100,000 people – less than half of Australia.

However, the Bali police reported 16% to an increase in the foreigners involved in crime – 226 in 2024, from 194 in 2023. The crimes rang from cybercrime and nerest materials to violent crimes and land fraud.

Piterjaitan, lawyer of Bali Social Justice, said the locals are always restless.

“We have meth laboratories, Villa robberies, crypto scams, fraud fraud and ATMs seen -often to Russian or Eastern European groups,” he said.

He accuses Bali open tourism model and post -pandemic economic despair.

“Corruption, weak law enforcement authorities and an easy entry make it a refuge for some criminals,” he said. He demanded stricter immigration controls, more training for the police in tourist areas and stronger cooperation with foreign agencies.

“We need high quality tourism, not just quantity,” he said.

The criminology professor Adrianus Meliala at the University of Indonesia said Bali could soon see the escalation rates of organized crimes.

“The demographic characteristics change, with more foreigners being settled in the long term and bringing some conflicts and criminal elements from their home countries.”

Meliala said Bali could be an attractive option for criminal groups from Australia and elsewhere: “It is tight, it is cheap and the law enforcement authorities are fighting to keep up.”

“Organized crime is not just terrorism or people who smuggle even more – it is now wider and Bali is economically and logistically attractive.”

According to Indonesia's statistics Bureau, about half a million tourists visit Bali every month, while more and more digital nomads flock to the island.

The provincial government hopes to achieve a record of 6.5 million international tourists this year – and races the island's infrastructure to keep up.

MungGu Village Chef I Ketut Darta said that only 400 villas were built this year – many in possession of foreigners – who triggered a large part of his agricultural wetland.

When the Guardian visited, many semi -constructed buildings were seen in a landscape with paddies and coconut groves.

Darta said he was concerned that the quick change and the influx of foreigners could affect security in his community, in which violence was extremely rare.

“There has never been a shootout here, even fights are rare,” he said.

“We patrol in our village 24 hours a day. Tourism is our elixir of life and we have to protect it.”