Dutch nationals blacklisted from Bali over alleged discriminatory run club

Two Dutch expatriates have been banned from returning to Bali after being accused of operating a run club that allegedly excluded Indonesian nationals. The club, Entourage Bali, stated it was created to foster a community for "digital nomads in Bali" and help newcomers connect. However, social media posts went viral, with some users labeling the group as discriminatory for allegedly not accepting locals. One Indonesian woman, Annisa Rahmadani Maclean, claimed her application was delayed due to her Indonesian name and number, while her husband's application was immediately accepted due to his Western name and number. Bali's Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, condemned the event and imposed an entry ban on the Dutch pair, identified as JAS, 35, and HQV, 37, who have since left for Singapore. Marantoko stated that foreign nationals cannot create their own rules or exclusivity within Indonesia. Entourage Bali responded, maintaining inclusivity and attributing rejections to errors in their automated approval process for WhatsApp groups and running events, which automatically rejected some Indonesian numbers. They also stated that Indonesians represented almost 25 percent of ticket holders at a recent silent disco run and announced a pause on all events, taking full accountability. Balinese-based Indonesian Senator Niluh Djelantik commented that local hospitality should not be mistaken for a license to disrespect, and using public spaces while rejecting local res