Calls For Deportation of Australian In Bali After Video Of Revving Moped In Canggu Goes Viral

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People in Bali and around the world are calling for an Australian tourist to be deported after a video has gone viral. In the footage, an Australian tourist can be seen burning skid mark circles on a street in Canggu.

Not only is he not wearing a helmet, but he also blocks traffic passing down the road and is causing unnecessary noise from the revving engine. While he appeared to think the whole incident was hilarious, his antics were recorded by many people passing by, and none seemed too impressed by his actions. 

The post has gone viral across local and tourists-expat social media accounts, including the satirical account The Canggu Pole. The video has also caught the attention of international newspapers and public figures in Bali, many of whom are calling on Immigration to track him down and kick him out of the country. 

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A post shared by The Canggu Pole (@thecanggupole)

The tourist wears white sneakers, black shorts, and a white t-shirt with ‘Burberry’ written on it. He has a full leg tattoo and, over the revving moped, can be heard joking, ‘What happens in Bali, stays in Bali’ The irony must be hard to swallow as calls are mounting for his deportation. His face had not been blurred in any of the versions of the video circulating online; it won’t be too hard for immigration officials to put a name to a face. 

The video, shared on The Canggu Pole, was accompanied by the caption, ‘Was praying for a stack here but the scooter gods didn’t pull through…yeah don’t be this guy. It seems that many locals in Bali, regular holidaymakers, and longer-term international residents in Canggu are sick of behavior like this too. One wrote, ‘Why do you behave like this? Can you just be normal? Do you think the rent-owner ok with this stunt?’. Another joked, ‘Not even Australians want this guy back’.

Local businesswoman and social justice activist, Niluh Djelantik, was quick to share her outrage at the performance. A translation of her Instagram caption of the video reads, ‘GARBAGE MAKES POLLUTION AND DAMAGE MOTORCYCLE. Imagine paying rent of Rp. 50,000 per day but the motorcycle cost at least Rp. 18 million treated like this, imagine if it’s broken how much the owner will cover. Bali needs tourists. But not this type of a**hole. Owner of DK 8464QD, if you rent to this tourist. Please check the condition of your bikes’. 

Observers are confident that the man in question does not own the moped and has undoubtedly damaged the tires. Not only that, it is outrightly breaking the law. All moped drivers must wear a helmet while driving, despite tourists and locals regularly flouting the rules.

As leaders and business owners in Bali work tirelessly to recover from the pandemic by promoting tourism in more diverse ways, it seems the island is vulnerable to exploration and disrespect. Minister for Tourism Sanidaga Uno is calling for more sustainable and high-quality tourism, and his department is working to bring that to fruition. The Department of Immigration has confirmed plans for the 5-10 year digital nomad visa are well underway.

Yet, there are reports every week of a tourist misbehaving, whether it be influencers trampling over temples or YouTubers disrespecting local cultural teachers. One comment on the video of the moped incident in Canggu writes, only half-jokingly, ‘Time for mandatory Tourist Visa IQ Test Requirement’. Followed by tagging the Director General of Immigration, Immigration Denpasar, and Bali Airport Immigration.

As Minister Uno suggested that Bali should emulate Bhutan’s tourism model where possible to create sustainable, high-quality tourism, anyone who has a love and admiration for the Island of the Gods is left wondering what more can be done to ensure these kinds of incidences are stopped for good.