DENPASAR, Bali – The number of Bali foreign tourists reached 6.3 million in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and cementing the island as Indonesia’s top tourism gateway. The arrivals accounted for nearly half of Indonesia’s 13.9 million foreign visitors that year.

Governor Wayan Koster emphasized that the rebound was not only in numbers but also in revenue, with Bali contributing 44 percent of the nation’s tourism foreign exchange earnings—equivalent to Rp107 trillion or about US$6.69 billion in 2024.

According to the Balance of Payments report from Bank Indonesia, total national foreign exchange revenue from tourism in 2024 reached US$16.71 billion, or around Rp280 trillion.

Yet behind the success, immigration data shows a rising trend of problematic visitors. Bali’s immigration offices expelled 378 foreigners between January and September 2024, compared with 335 deportations in 2023. Nationally, the Directorate General of Immigration recorded 2,669 deportations and 2,009 detentions from January to July 2025, alongside 62 legal proceedings.

Immigration Director General Silmy Karim explained that violations ranged from visa overstays and illegal work to abuse of investor visas. “Some foreigners were even involved in transnational crimes, while others resisted law enforcement or disrespected Balinese traditions,” he said.

To tighten monitoring, authorities have launched several coordinated operations. The Jagratara raids netted 914 foreigners in May 2024 and 1,293 in July, while Bali Becik in June 2024 detained 103 alleged members of international cybercrime syndicates. Most recently, Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto launched the Immigration Patrol Task Force in Bali from August 1–31, 2025.

“The task force involves 100 immigration officers supported by police, military, Satpol PP, and pecalang. They patrol tourist hotspots with protective vests and body cameras, and can temporarily seize passports of suspected violators,” Andrianto said.

Challenges remain beyond direct supervision. The mushrooming of unlicensed accommodations complicates monitoring, as unlike licensed hotels, many fail to report foreign guests through the mandatory APOA system. “This is not only a monitoring gap but also a tax loss for the government,” said PHRI Bali Secretary-General Perry Markus, urging tighter crackdowns on illegal lodgings.

Institutional integrity has also been tested. Bali Police arrested two immigration officers—identified as EE from Jakarta and YB from Magelang—for colluding with Russian nationals to extort a Lithuanian citizen by threatening deportation. Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya confirmed the arrests, while Minister Andrianto promised dismissal sanctions after court rulings, stressing integrity as “non-negotiable” in immigration duties.

He added that beyond supervision, training and capacity-building for officers are equally vital. “Tourism growth must be balanced with stricter permit issuance, stronger cross-agency cooperation, and better use of technology,” Andrianto said.