Two Foreign Residents Blacklisted After Canggu Running Club Bars Indonesians
Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration has placed two Dutch nationals on a permanent re-entry ban following their operation of a running club in Canggu, Badung Regency, that explicitly excluded Indonesian citizens. The case has drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny of how foreign residents conduct social and community activities on the island.
What Happened
The club, called "Entourage Run," was organized in the Canggu area of Bali. According to ANTARA, which first reported the story, a 23-year-old Indonesian woman publicly described being turned away from a run after she told organizers she was Indonesian. Her account spread rapidly on social media, generating significant public backlash.
Balinese Senator Ni Luh Djelantik responded by filing a formal complaint with both provincial immigration authorities and local police.
The Immigration Response
Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko identified the two organizers by their initials: JAS, 35, who held a work-based limited stay permit, and HQV, 37, who held an investor limited stay permit. Both men had already left Indonesia for Singapore via Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport before the announcement was made.
Marantoko stated that the pair violated immigration regulations by organizing an event in Indonesia without the required permits, and framed the exclusionary club in stark terms: "There should not be a state within a state. We consider this running club to be functioning as a 'state within a state'."
Beyond blacklisting the two individuals, Marantoko instructed the Bali Immigration Office to investigate event organizers more broadly and pursue legal action against any other parties found to have broken immigration rules.
Broader Context
The incident sits within a wider conversation about how foreign nationals, particularly in popular areas like Canggu, interact with local communities. Bali has seen growing tension around the behavior and social footprint of long-stay foreign residents. This case is notable because it resulted in concrete enforcement action, not just public criticism, and because the individuals involved held legitimate residency permits at the time.
The fact that both men held different categories of stay permits, one work-based and one investor-based, signals that immigration authorities are prepared to act regardless of permit type when violations are found.
Why It Matters for Hosts
Independent operators running guesthouses, villas, co-working spaces, or activity programs in Bali should take note: any event or community gathering organized on or through your property that restricts participation by nationality could attract regulatory attention. Inclusive programming is not just good hospitality practice; it aligns with Indonesian law and the expectations immigration authorities have made explicit through this case. If you host or promote third-party events, it is worth confirming those organizers hold the correct permits and that participation policies are open to all.
Details in this post were first reported by ANTARA News. This post is published by the Qontaktly travel blog.
First reported by Bali Travel.