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Australian Government Issues Important Warnings To Bali Tourists

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The Australian Government has issued updated guidance for tourists heading to Bali. The updates come as a number of Australian tourists have been seriously injured and, in some tragic cases, even lost their lives on the paradise island in the last few months.

Australian tourists are the most frequent international arrivals in Bali, but the Australian Government’s advice is applicable to all tourists visiting the province. 

Australian Government Issue Important Warnings To Bali Tourists

The Australian Government is especially focused on young tourists heading to Bali for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Insure & Go spokesman David Mayo has spoken to the media about the importance of all travelers making sure they have comprehensive insurance before they jet off to Bali. It’s also super important to understand what is and isn’t covered, how to make a claim, and what activities or actions may invalidate cover.

Mayo explained, “In Bali, we can enjoy an unforgettable experience [especially] for teenagers. But they should take travel insurance that can cover emergency medical treatment, last-minute trip cancellation, and other challenging activities while in Bali.”

Low-cost airlines are already adding more flight services between Australian cities and Denpasar ahead of the holiday season, with Jetstar already announcing ten new weekly flights.

Mayo reminded travelers to read up on Indonesian law to understand how to respect local culture and understand that violating the local law invalidates insurance coverage.

He explained, “In Indonesia, using drugs or anything related to it is a serious violation of the law; the perpetrators can be fined a large amount and even end up with the death penalty. They also have strict rules about alcohol because only those aged 21 and above are allowed to enter bars or buy alcoholic drinks.”

Advice on the SmartTraveller, the Australian Travel Advice Board, explains how and why comprehensive travel insurance is needed for Indonesia. It explained, “Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including emergency treatment and medical evacuation.”

“The Australian Government won’t pay for these costs. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are. If you’re not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.”

SmartTraveller advises Bali-bound tourists to confirm what activities are and are not covered by the policy, to check that the cover is valid for the duration of the trip and includes all forms of transport, to check whether the policy includes medical evacuation in the event of injury or hospitalisation and check specifically for any exclusions. 

In statements issued to Australian tourists in December 2023, Australian Deputy Foreign Minister Tim Watts explained “Australian consular officials will do their best to help Australians if you get into trouble overseas, but the support we can provide is limited.”

“We can’t pay for medical bills; for example, we can’t pay to get you back to Australia if you have an incident that makes it difficult for you to travel.”

Shared-Room-on-Hospital-Ward-With-Hosptial-Beds-Lined-Up

Bali-bound tourists traveling with young children were also issued with stark and potentially lifesaving advice last week from the CEO of Royal Lifesaving Australia.

The guidance came after the tragic death of a 14-month-old baby boy after he fell into a swimming pool at the family’s rental villa and drowned. 

Swimming-Pool-in-Villa-Bali

The CEO of Royal Life Saving Australia, Justin Scarr, called for parents and carers to seriously consider what type of accommodation they book if traveling with young children.

He noted, “If you’re a parent of a very young child – a crawler, an early walker – then those villas are very, very dangerous, and you need to be watching them like a hawk.”

Family-Pool-Hotel-Beach-Club-Bali

He added, “Obviously, it’s a good idea for people to carry a first aid kit while traveling and freshen up their CPR skills. Quite often, in these holiday resorts and remote locations, if you’re called to do CPR in an emergency, it is lifesaving.”

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Peter

Friday 8th of November 2024

No one tells about the real tragedies that happens here. Nearly every day a tourist dies here. But life is not important here because of beliefs. A 11 year old boy died last week in my village because he had a fever. No one knew to put him in a ice bath. They watch him pass away. Medicine is another problem because chemists here haven’t got a clue. They just want to sell you something.

Shorty

Tuesday 12th of November 2024

@Exp

Biased crap.

From this and previous posts, it would seem you and your attitude are the problem. Not the hospital, medical, nursing and ancillary services.

Shorty

Tuesday 12th of November 2024

@Peter, A tourist dying almost every day??? Bullshit. The 11yo dying. Do you know what the underlying cause was? Do you know what treatment he was or had been receiving? Do you know if given his condition the shock of an ice bath could have exacerbated things or killed him? Did you make any positive intervention or help?

Exp

Saturday 9th of November 2024

@Peter, True. I had to carry my wife out from one of Jakarta "top" hospitals as medicines given was home mixed instead of international brand, no visible improvement during "treatment", doctor never around to look after. The main interest was to keep patient in as long as possible to rack up huge bill. My wife improved right away as soon as she was off the hospital "treatment". Those talking themselves up on the Indonesian health care have no idea what motivates actions here.

Randy

Friday 8th of November 2024

Seasoned foreign younger tourists in Bali using motorcycles have been considered a rite of passage. What’s worse navigating Bali traffic without regards for local traffic rules and adopting what they see locally. To sum it up “Do as the Romans do mentality” in a way. If a few may end up in an accident for whatever reason (including driving under the influence), it is own their own doing. Many are also not experienced like the Balinese who may know how to work together in a traffic mayhem without getting hurt. It is NOT rocket science to navigate carefully, patiently and defensively with using common sense in a foreign traffic situation. It is easy to blame the locals for not observing the traffic laws but the seasoned foreign tourists are just as bad.

I once saw white foreign kids probably in their early teens driving a scooter or a foreign resident with 3 dogs and a local person behind on his motorcycle. So yes there is enough blame to go around if there was an accident on the road.

Bayley Blake

Thursday 7th of November 2024

Good! Stay away! Bali doesn't need more tourists. Over-tourism and over-development is destroying this beautiful island.

Fred Furiousfux

Thursday 7th of November 2024

Hmmmm .... reading the above and seeing "Australian Government can only provide limited assistance and can't pay your medical expenses in case of serious accident or medi-vac you Home". There's a difference between "can't" and "won't". IF? there was ever a current serving Australian Federal politician who faced a serious injury in Bali and needed big bucks to cover medical expenses or needed a medi-vac flight back to Australia, you watch the Australian Government "suddenly" be willing and able and willing to help out and come to the rescue

Shorty

Friday 8th of November 2024

@Fred Furiousfux,

So what?

Any Government elected or employed person would be covered by insurance.

Randy

Friday 8th of November 2024

@Fred Furiousfux, a good point.

CR

Friday 8th of November 2024

@Fred Furiousfux, if an Australian Federal Politician was in Bali, they would have travel insurance.

It's not a big ask of the Australian government to expect people to look after themselves when they are outside Australia.

For example, why should the government pay for someone who wasn't wearing a helmet or riding a motorcycle drunk in Bali? I certainly don't want my taxes to be wasted on the stupid.

TruthTeller

Thursday 7th of November 2024

Bali needs to improve safety standards. Don't hold your breath...

Shorty

Friday 8th of November 2024

@TruthTeller,

You are primarily responsible for your own safety, not the jurisdiction.