How Bali’s ‘Naughty Tourist’ police unit are taking on foreign tourists behaving badly

The Naughty Tourist patrol is on a laser-focused mission to reign in visitors doing all the wrong things in the island paradise of Bali. See the exclusive video.

Their name may evoke a laugh but there is nothing comical about Bali’s newest law enforcement unit.

The Naughty Tourists patrol is on a laser-focused mission to reign in visitors doing all the wrong things in their island paradise.

There is the obvious bad behaviour: not wearing helmets while riding a motorbike, visa breaches, behaving badly while inebriated, and fighting.

And the less obvious but very serious: defiling sacred space and working illegally.

We joined the patrol for a behind-the-scenes look at their very busy, mostly after-hours work.

At Parq – a hotspot among Russian crypto current tzars and assorted social media models and influencers – the team of 20 immigration officers arrived at 8pm and moved from table to table, scrutinising electronic visas of about 90 people.

Bali’s law enforcement unit, The Naughty Tourists patrol. Picture: Supplied

The Naughty Tourists officers question visitors to Bali. Picture: Supplied

The patrol went on to upset a shisha smoking session at the same millennial sanctuary in Ubud.

The raid on Parq was co-ordinated with hotel management, as resorts and hotels across Bali jump on board to support the Naughty Tourists to stem the appalling etiquette.

Vice Governor of Bali Prof. Tjok Oka Sukawati said too many tourists had been violating the rules and customary.

“Bali’s reputation is slightly tarnished due to the actions of unscrupulous foreign tourists who do not heed applicable regulations such as riding a motorcycle without a helmet, fighting with pecalang (traditional villages security guards), disrespecting our culture, or doing illegal business,” Mr Sukawati said.

Citizen vigilante groups video every fracas they see between locals and foreigners, which inevitably go viral.

A Balinese priest lost his cool after a foreigner yelled insults. The priest stopped the traffic and ripped off his hat to attack the tourist. Picture: Instagram

Most recently, a Balinese priest was seen losing his cool after a foreigner yelled insults. The priest stopped the traffic, ripped off his hat to attack the tourist.

In March, Melbourne woman Marita Daniell fled the island after being videoed hurling a tirade of abuse at a police officer who pulled over for not wearing a helmet. The ex-pat had lived on the island for 23 years and was the co-owner of the hugely popular Blow Bar – salon and bar in Seminyak.

Thousands of locals took to social media to denounce Daniell and to praise the calm the officer maintained.

Australian Marita Daniell was deported for arguing with Indonesian police over not wearing a helmet. Picture: Twitter

It was the same week that Australian actor Chris Hemsworth was photographed buzzing around Bali on his motorbike with his wife Elsa Pataky – both wearing helmets.

One local wag pointed out that if even Thor can wear a helmet, why can’t other tourists.

Powerful Balinese businesswoman Niluh Jelantik often steps in to help resolve issues between foreigners and locals. Recently she mediated between a Lebanese tourist who was videoed screaming abuse at his 75-year-old Balinese landlord.

Ms Jelantik also represents tourists on the island and recently helped American influencer Alexandra Seper when she claimed she was stalked and sent kidnapping threats by British tourist Rob Keating.

Police said there was no legal basis for them to intervene.

Historically, Aussies were the biggest headache for Bali tourism, with regular drunken brawls and careless motorbike accidents. That has been relegated to history with Russian nationals claiming the top position as troublemakers – but with a much darker presence.

Alexandra Saper, a US influencer, is living in fear on Bali after an alleged online stalker landed in Indonesia and threatened to kidnap her. Picture: Instagram

The changing demographic has captured the attention of police, immigration, Satpol and local village security who are working together to put an end to disrespectful behaviour.

“Something in Bali has changed, especially disrespectful behaviour. Russian tourists, for example, change the license plates of rented motorcycles, work illegally and dishonour our culture. These are not situations that Australians took part in,” police spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto said.

Russians fleeing a potential draft to fight in the war in Ukraine have descended on the island.

Last year 60,000 Russians came to Bali. In the past 12 months, 59 Russians were deported for working as hairdressers, driving instructors, photographers, prostitutes, singers, and shop assistants.

Luiza Kosykh, a Russian woman who posted a nude photo of herself in front of a sacred tree, was deported from Bali. Picture: Instagram

However, it is the desecration of sacred sites and ignorance of the culture that angers locals. Indeed one Russian was sent home last year for posing naked in a 700-year-old sacred Banyan tree.

The creation of Russian fenced off community near Ubud has angered the local village council and in Jimbaran, near the airport, an entire guesthouse full of Russians demanded that Balinese villagers silence their beloved pet roosters. The complaint caused uproar.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster blew back on the fowl situation by calling on the Balinese to buy more roosters.

Mr Koster has now appealed to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in Jakarta to end the Visa on Arrival policy for Russian and Ukrainians coming to Bali. 

In December, the government shelved the plan for a digital nomad visa and replaced it with a second homeowner visa which requires proof of $150,000 in funds to live on the island.

Originally published as How Bali’s ‘Naughty Tourist’ police unit are taking on foreign tourists behaving badly