Shadows Behind the Postcard: How Bali is Stepping Up Security Measures Due to Crime Targeting Tourists
Bali has been sold as a postcard for decades: rice terraces in the interior, temples by the sea, and a nightlife that doesn't stop until morning during the season. But behind the image of an "island paradise," the question of safety is increasingly arising. In the busiest tourist zones, thefts, scams, and street incidents affecting visitors are being recorded – from classic "bag snatching" attacks on scooters to more sophisticated scams related to vehicle rentals, currency exchange offices, and digital payments. Balinese authorities are responding with a more visible police presence, new checkpoints, and targeted actions, striving to simultaneously protect millions of guests and preserve the reputation of a destination on which a large part of the local economy depends.
The latest move in this direction arrived in early February 2026, when a new
Tourism Police Station was opened in Kuta, Badung district, with an emphasis on faster receipt of reports, patrol coordination, and the use of surveillance from a command center. According to the regional police, the idea is for the police presence to be a "tangible service" for both tourists and the local population, rather than just symbolism. The opening of the station comes at a time when Bali is recording strong tourism figures: official statistics from the provincial statistics bureau show that in 2025, a total of
6,948,754 foreign visitor arrivals were recorded, the vast majority of which related to arrivals through I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.
Tourism has recovered, and pressure on security is growing
Figures revolving around seven million international arrivals in a single year in local statistics do not only mean full hotels and restaurants. They also mean a different dynamic on the street: crowds in nightlife zones, higher traffic of scooters and taxis, more cash and card transactions, and a constant circulation of tourists who are often unfamiliar with local rules or common risks. Security challenges, meanwhile, are not necessarily new – but the difference is that today, incidents spread faster through social networks, and reputational damage can occur in an hour.
In practice, the south Balinese corridors where tourism is concentrated are mentioned most:
Kuta,
Legian,
Seminyak,
Canggu,
Nusa Dua, and the wider area of
South Kuta. Police reports and local posts from recent months often emphasize night patrols, controls around clubs and places where visitors move on foot, but also presence in traffic hubs where quick thefts occur. One of the cases that attracted the attention of regional media involved an attack and jewelry snatching in the crowd of a resort district, which further prompted the police message that even "busy, well-lit" locations are not immune.
What is actually happening on the ground: thefts, scams, and "petty" crime with major consequences
In conversations with tourism workers and local residents, the same thesis is repeated: most visitors will not experience anything serious, but a few bad experiences are enough for the atmosphere to change. The most common patterns mentioned in public warnings and police statements usually fall into three groups.
First, there are
quick street thefts: snatching of bags or mobile phones, thefts from backpacks in crowds, thefts on the beach, and incidents where thieves target careless tourists carrying a phone in their hand or a bag slung over one shoulder. In tourist zones where many move on scooters, there are also frequent cases where an attacker on a motorcycle tries to "snatch" an object while passing by the victim.
Second, there are
scams and gray zone services. In practice, this includes inflated bills, manipulations in currency exchange offices, fake or unclear "fees" for scooter rentals, as well as situations where a tourist only realizes after an incident that the contract did not cover what they thought it covered. In the digital version, part of the scams move to apps and online payments: a tourist pays a "reservation" or "deposit," and it turns out that the intermediary is not authorized or that it is a fake advertisement.
Third, there are
incidents related to nightlife: arguments, conflicts near clubs, thefts during nights out, and problems that occur when alcohol, an unfamiliar environment, and carelessness mix. This is precisely why police patrols in Canggu and Kuta often emphasize a "preventative" role – a presence that should deter perpetrators and reduce escalations.
Why the police are stepping up patrols right now
In official messages, the emphasis is on prevention and restoring a sense of security, but in the background is also a cold calculation: Bali is a global brand, and security perception directly affects demand. In this context, it is no coincidence that measures are being strengthened at times when tourist traffic is high or when periods of increased travel are approaching.
The opening of the Tourism Police Station in Kuta is conceived as a "front office" for visitors who need quick help, and simultaneously as an operational point for coordination on the ground. According to information published by the state news agency, the station includes a command center with video surveillance displays, and the regional police chief emphasized that the goal is to strengthen the protection of tourists and Bali's image as a world-class destination.
Parallel to police measures,
immigration controls aimed at foreigners staying or working in Bali without proper permits have also been intensified. Footage of document checks in tourist districts has circulated in regional media in recent months, along with the authorities' message that they want to suppress illegal work and activities that may be related to crime or public disorder. Although some tourists perceive such controls as an inconvenience, public explanations emphasize law enforcement and risk reduction in the most visited zones.
Broader framework: new rules of conduct and the collection of the tourism levy
Security is not the only topic occupying Balinese authorities. The pressure of mass tourism in recent years has opened debates on traffic, waste, over-construction, and the behavior of a small portion of visitors who ignore local customs. That is precisely why the Governor of Bali,
I Wayan Koster, presented updated guidelines for foreign tourists in 2025, formalized in a circular stating what is considered acceptable behavior and what can lead to sanctions. These guidelines are linked in official announcements to the preservation of culture and "order," but also to the intention to move tourism towards a higher-quality model.
In addition, Bali has introduced a
tourism levy, which is cited in international reports as an instrument for managing visitor pressure and financing public needs related to tourism. However, even the authorities themselves admit that implementation – from collection to control – is a challenge in a destination that receives thousands of people daily from different legal and cultural frameworks.
What "tourist protection" looks like in practice: from patrols to quick reports
For tourists, the key difference is not in the number of police statements, but in how quickly they can get help and how specific cases are resolved. In Kuta, according to the police plan, a faster flow of reports, a clearer communication channel, and coordination with other services are expected. This especially applies to situations where a tourist needs an official report for insurance, lost documents, or later legal proceedings.
Part of the security strategy also relates to "visible" presence at points where crime most often occurs: club entrances, busy intersections, beach promenades, parking lots, and streets where tourists walk alone in the evening. The police emphasize in their announcements that the goal is to "prevent before it happens," which in practice means frequent rounds, conversations with caterers, and quick reaction to reports.
At the same time, police actions are not only directed at perpetrators who target tourists, but also at behaviors that create disorder: violent conflicts, drinking in public places, driving without a helmet or without a license, and violations of local regulations. In such an environment, security and public order merge into the same story: fewer incidents mean less space for "opportunities" for criminals.
The line between real risk and reputational effect
One of the biggest problems for Bali is that the security image is created in the digital space. Individual incidents – even when relatively "small" – go viral, often without context, and then turn into generalizations. This was also seen in examples of thefts in stores or conflicts that ended up on social networks, where public lynching was sometimes as strong as the formal reaction of institutions.
Authorities, however, are trying to send a different message: incidents exist, but they are being responded to, and the security infrastructure is strengthening. The opening of a special police station for tourists is part of that communication strategy, but also a practical response to the fact that the number of reports and the need for support increases with the growth of arrivals.
What the tourism industry says about it
Hoteliers and caterers traditionally avoid dramatic formulations, because every word about crime can have a marketing effect. But in professional conversations, they emphasize that the interest is mutual: tourists must have a sense of security, and the local economy needs stability. Data from industry associations and statistical institutions about the growth of international arrivals in 2025 serve as a reminder of how high the stakes are – and how expensive a negative perception could be.
Because of this, part of the sector is increasingly relying on practical measures: better lighting in hotels and access roads, additional cameras, clearer instructions for guests, partnership with local authorities, but also the development of "soft" security protocols, such as recommendations for routes at night or verified transporters.
What tourists can do: realistic precautions without panic
Police actions and official stations only make sense if they are supplemented by basic personal responsibility. Tourists in Bali, especially in nightlife zones, can reduce risk with simple habits that do not spoil the trip.
- In crowds and on a scooter, keep your phone and bag out of being an "easy target," avoid carrying valuable items in a visible way.
- Use licensed transporters or apps with a clear price display, and when making arrangements "on the street," seek an agreement in advance and keep messages/receipts.
- At currency exchange offices and when paying by card, check the amount before confirmation; avoid suspiciously favorable exchange rates and unregistered points.
- Contract scooter rentals with verified companies; photograph the vehicle before taking it over and read the terms of the deposit, damage, and insurance.
- Move in company at night, especially in narrow streets around clubs; use well-lit routes and do not leave drinks unattended.
- Keep documents and copies separately; in case of theft or loss, quickly report the incident to the police for an official report.
These recommendations are not specific only to Bali, but are especially highlighted on the island due to the combination of a large number of visitors, intense nightlife, and the fact that tourists often rely on a scooter as the basic means of transport.
Balance between "paradise" and reality
Bali finds itself in a paradox today: the more successful it is as a destination, the more challenging it is to manage the consequences of popularity. Increased patrols, the new Tourism Police Station in Kuta, and immigration controls show that authorities want to demonstrate control and reduce space for crime targeting visitors. At the same time, the long-term solution is not only in uniforms and cameras, but also in urban planning, regulation of services, education of tourists, and a clear message that local rules – from traffic to cultural – are part of the "package" of every visit.
For most travelers, Bali will still remain what they came for: sea, culture, and rest. But the message from 2026 is increasingly clear: in an era of mass travel, security can no longer be taken for granted, and preserving the reputation of "paradise" also requires visible, concrete moves on the ground.
Sources:- BPS-Statistics Indonesia (Bali Province) – monthly and annual data on foreign visitor arrivals in 2025. ( link )- ANTARA News – report on the opening of the Tourism Police Station in Kuta and statements by the regional police ( link )- Love Bali (Government of Bali Province) – official announcement regarding circular SE No. 7 of 2025 and guidelines for the conduct of foreign tourists ( link )- TIME – analysis of mass tourism pressure and measures such as the tourism levy and rule enforcement ( link )
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