Bali run club controversy leads to immigration bans and discrimination allegations

A popular running club in Canggu, Entourage Bali, founded by two Dutch nationals, has become the center of a controversy in Indonesia. The club, which organized social runs for expats and digital nomads, faced accusations of excluding Indonesian locals. Screenshots circulated on social media suggested that applications from Indonesian phone numbers were ignored or delayed, while foreign numbers received faster approval. Entourage Bali issued a public apology, attributing the issue to an error in their automated WhatsApp approval system that unintentionally biased against some Indonesian phone numbers. They stated the club never intended to exclude locals and that nearly 25% of participants at a recent event were Indonesian. Indonesian immigration authorities investigated and found that the two Dutch organizers, Joost Storms and Hidde van Vliet, violated their stay permit conditions by organizing community events not allowed under their limited stay visas. Consequently, both organizers have been placed on Indonesia's national entry ban list, preventing their re-entry into the country. Bali senator Ni Luh Djelantik criticized the incident, emphasizing that Bali's hospitality should not be taken for granted. Entourage Bali has suspended all events indefinitely. The incident has also sparked a broader discussion about digital nomads, gentrification, and compliance with Indonesian laws and regulations among foreigners in Bali.