Indonesian island Bali is planning to ban foreign tourists from using motorbikes after a spate of cases involving people breaking traffic laws.
“You [should]not roam about the island using motorbikes, without wearing shirts or clothes, no helmet, and even without a license,” Governor I Wayan Koster said.
Tourists will instead get around on vehicles provided by travel agents.
The plan has been divisive as tourism continues to recover from Covid losses.
More than 171 foreign nationals have violated traffic orders from late February to early March, according to local police records. Some tourists also use fake license plates.
“If you are a tourist, then act like a tourist,” said the governor.
Foreign tourists in Bali often prefer renting motorbikes to get around the island, which does not have a well-developed public transport system. The two-wheelers make for a good option for weaving in and out of traffic, as well as traveling through scenic back alleys.
The proposed ban will be implemented via a regional law sometime this year, but how it will be enforced is unclear.
One Ukrainian tourist – who asked not to be named – said foreigners should be “given the freedom” to ride motorbikes as long as they provide valid licenses.
“We don’t use the services of a travel agent because we want to be independent and like to do things ourselves so we can feel the atmosphere,” she told BBC Indonesia.
Finnish tourist Kristo, on the other hand, supports the proposed ban. “Many riders behave like they are drunk and do not wear helmets. That is very dangerous,” he told the Indonesian news website detik.
But some operators have raised concerns over its effect on business.
Dedek Warjana, who chairs Bali’s motorbike rental association, said the proposal was hasty and authorities should act on specific violations instead of setting a blanket ban.
Such a ban may also tarnish Indonesia’s reputation in the eyes of other countries, said Nyoman Sukma Arida, a lecturer in tourism at Bali’s University of Udayana.
The growing number of traffic violations also points to weak enforcement of existing rules by the local authorities, he said.
