Increased Security Patrols Set To Protect Bali Tourists From Opportunistic Crime 

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Safety is the most important aspect of a vacation anywhere in the world. If we don’t feel safe, we can’t kick back and relax, which is the whole point of a holiday, right?

Here at The Bali Sun, we take safety very seriously, and new updates from Bali Police highlight that tourism leaders are working to reduce crime in top resort areas. 

Kuta is one of Bali’s most famous tourist resorts, welcoming hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Popular with domestic tourists and international tourists, families, solo travellers, and friends’ trips, Kuta’s mass appeal is also the root of its problem.

It has long been acknowledged that waves of opportunistic crime pass through Kuta, and with a buzzing nightlife scene, it’s not uncommon for alcohol-fueled altercations to break out late at night in some pockets of the resort area. 

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Nevertheless, Kuta is a safe and welcoming tourism resort, and Bali Police are renewing efforts to crack down on crime the moment it appears to help ensure that Kuta remains a comfortable place for everyone.

Kuta Police Chief, Commissioner Agus Riwayanto Diputra, has this week called on all stakeholders in the area to come together to help improve ‘supervision of potential vulnerabilities’.

Commissioner Diputra called together Kuta Traditional Village leaders, along with the Badung Regency Civil Police (Satpol PP), the Kuta Pecalang teams, tourism businesses, and local community members to make Kuta an even safer place. 

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As explained in a formal circular letter, Commissioner Diputra notes that collaboration is key for maintaining security and preventing disturbances in the Kuta area, especially in the nightlife scene during the festive season.

He shared, “Regarding nighttime activity control, the Kuta Police are open to coordinating with the local government if the situation requires additional restrictive measures.”

He added, “The Kuta Police are committed to maintaining a safe, orderly, and conducive tourism environment by prioritising preventative, human, and collaborative measures. We encourage the entire community, businesses, and other stakeholders to continue supporting efforts to maintain regional security for the well-being of all.”

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For tourists visiting Kuta in the coming weeks and over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, this may mean that they will see more security officers out on patrol. It is important that tourists report any suspicious activity or crime to security officials as quickly as possible.

Reports should be made directly to Kuta Police; however, in the local Pecalang, officers are often the first on the scene since they are posted throughout every village day and night.

As traditional village security, they are also on hand to help tourists in the moment, and they work directly with the police, too. 

It is clear that security leaders in Bali understand that full stakeholder engagement is required to ensure that safety and comfort prevail for both local communities and tourists.

This is why this week the Bali Regional Police partnered with online taxi service provider GoJek to offer training to drivers. The training focused on Indonesia’s road laws, understanding tourism, and the importance of high-quality service and passenger protection. 

Speaking to reporters after the training, Gde Armyn Gita, the Head of Corporate Affairs for Gojek Bali and Nusa Tenggara, shared, “Driver-partners are the first people to interact directly with tourists and the public. Therefore, understanding the law and maintaining order on the road are key to maintaining Bali’s image as a safe and world-class destination. Gojek is committed to continuing to collaborate with the police and all stakeholders to ensure public safety and comfortable mobility in Bali.”

The Senior Commissioner of Police, Dr. I Gede Adhi Mulyawarman, Director of General Criminal Investigation of the Bali Regional Police, added, “We express our appreciation and gratitude to Gojek for taking the initiative to organize this legal education activity. This step is very positive in strengthening legal awareness among the public, especially online transportation drivers who are a vital part of tourism mobility in Bali. We hope that this kind of collaboration can continue to maintain security, order, and safety for all.”

Tourists using GoJek and Grab in Bali are advised to activate all of the available safety and security features before booking their first ride. On the GoJek app, for example, tourists have been encouraged by the company to activate Location Sharing and the Emergency Button feature.

As explained by GoJek and Bali Police, these features are designed to keep both drivers and passengers safe and to ensure that safety remains a top priority for Bali as a world-class tourism destination.