Bali Mandates Permits for Running Events After Racist Incident

Bali's tourism chief, I Wayan Sumarajaya, has mandated that all running events must obtain permits, a response to a recent incident involving a foreign running group in Canggu. The group, known as Entourage Bali, allegedly displayed racist behavior and operated without the necessary authorization.

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We certainly strongly support sport tourism, but we hope all business actors or the public who want to hold such events comply with the provisions.

Sumarajaya stated that while the provincial government strongly supports sports tourism, all event organizers must comply with existing regulations. He assured that officially permitted events would be secure, having received approval from security forces. However, he admitted to not having thoroughly investigated the Canggu incident and was unaware of the growing trend of running events organized by international tourists.

Despite the incident causing some local running communities to scale back activities due to potential repercussions, Sumarajaya expressed confidence in Bali's continued appeal as a sports tourism destination. He emphasized the significant potential of running events for Bali's economy, provided they are officially sanctioned and adhere to regulations. The provincial government actively promotes such events, citing a successful race held in Jatiluwih as an example.

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I am sure that tourists still trust us in Bali, I urge that sports tourism events are still needed in Bali, and we even encourage them.

Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, head of Commission II at the Bali Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), confirmed that the foreign-initiated event in Canggu violated regulations. He noted that the integrated permitting system (OSS) in Bali had removed low-risk business codes (KBLI) for sports event promoters. Linggih also condemned the alleged racism, stressing that while Bali welcomes foreign tourists, they must respect the local culture and community. He highlighted the crucial role of domestic tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting they deserve greater consideration.

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I strongly condemn the racist actions in Bali, we welcome foreign tourists, but foreign tourists must also respect that this is our home, we must also remember that during COVID, those who saved us were domestic tourists, not foreign ones.