Every morning, running clubs run through the streets of Canggu, the busy seaside resort on the southwest coast of Bali.
They regularly pass the Canggu Shortcut, a narrow road near Juryco Nugraha’s tattoo studio, where he also lives above. Nugraha, who goes by the name Kane, had grown accustomed to it. “You can hear their steps and people talking,” he said.
But every now and then, a larger, louder group would pass by around 5:30 a.m., singing and cheering as they passed his studio, he said.
One of Canggu’s many running clubs was Entourage Bali, whose events were hard to miss. Videos circulating online show one of their “Silent Disco” runs, with runners covering almost the entire width of the street, wearing glowing headphones and a DJ leading the group from a truck.
In July, Entourage became the center of a much larger debate after social media posts said it had discriminated against local candidates.
The episode reverberated in digital nomad circles and caused a widespread reaction online. A Reddit thread it attracted more than 500 comments. Bali Senator Ni Luh Djelantik reposted a video of one of Entourage’s runs and called on authorities to investigate.
On July 24, immigration authorities said yes two Dutch people excluded affiliated with the club, both having left the country on July 23 after re-entering Indonesia. Indonesian authorities have not publicly identified the two individuals other than by their initials. Officials said they suspected the event violated immigration rules and ordered a further investigation into the organizers, per state news agency Antara.
Bali has experienced several waves of tourism – it has made the most of the pseudo-spiritual “Eat Pray Love” crowd and yoga interns to raucous spring break revelers.
Since the pandemic, Bali has also strengthened its reputation as one of the world’s capitals top destinations for digital nomadsas the rise of remote work has given more people the freedom to work from anywhere.
Bali became a major destination for digital nomads after the pandemic, as remote working became more widespread. Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
As the number of tourists on the island has increased, the Entourage case has become the latest flashpoint in a growing debate over how foreigners should live, work and do business in Bali.
The authorities are tightening the rules
About 4.5 million people live in Bali. It welcomed almost 7 million international visitors in 2025.
Running clubswhich have risen in popularity worldwide as a way to exercise and socialize, are part of the latest iteration of Bali’s foreign social scene, alongside padel clubs, coworking spaces and wellness communities.
For some locals, the growing presence of foreigners has created a complicated dynamic.
Friska Wirya, born in Jakarta and raised in the US and Australia, moved to Bali in 2024. She said she has seen some foreigners behave in ways that go against local customs, such as entering shops shirtless or in bikinis, which is considered disrespectful in a culture that values modesty.
“It’s a bit of a love-hate relationship, because ultimately it is a tourist island. A huge economic engine, not only for Bali, but also for Indonesia itself,” says Wirya.
Still, she says many foreign residents who make a life on the island “love and appreciate the Balinese” and the local culture.
The Entourage case comes after years of friction over the behavior of foreign visitors in Bali. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Entourage case follows years of high-profile incidents involving foreigners accused of breaking local laws and disrespecting resort island customs.
In 2023, a German tourist was arrested after interrupting a temple performance and undressing. In March, a Swiss tourist was arrested over a social media post insulting Nyepi, Bali’s annual Hindu day of silence. In April, an Italian man was deported after a video of him physically confronting a traffic officer went viral.
Such incidents have become emblematic of a broader tension between Bali’s growing international appeal and local expectations that visitors respect the island’s laws and traditions.
“We are Indonesian and when we go abroad we follow the rules,” Balinese senator Djelantik told Business Insider. ‘If you come to our country, we expect you to do the same. That’s all.’
Between January and June this year, Bali’s immigration authorities 342 foreigners deported. For comparison: Bali deported 378 foreigners in the first nine months of 2024 and 335 in the whole of 2023.
The growing pains of Bali’s foreign boom
As in many tourist destinations, the tensions have deeper roots.
In tourism-heavy parts of Bali, rapid development has boosted land values, transformed neighborhoods and increased the number of foreign-owned businesses, Tangguh Okta Wibowo, a lecturer at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara in Jakarta, told Business Insider. Wibowo has conducted research into digital nomad communities in Bali.
Economic differences are also part of the tension. “Many digital nomads derive their income from global labor markets living in BaliSo they have a purchasing power that is very different from local wages,” says Wibowo.
The average monthly wage for workers in Bali was about 4.06 million rupiah, or $230, in February. latest government data shows.
Bali’s overseas boom has also highlighted the economic divide between many locals and wealthier newcomers. SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP
Indonesian real estate portal 99.co estimated the market price for monthly rental properties in Bali at around 10.8 million rupiah in the third quarter of 2026 – more than twice the average monthly wage.
For Kane, the tattoo artist, Part of the frustration is seeing foreigners enter businesses traditionally run by locals, including bicycle rentals, tourism services and Balinese prayer experiences, he said.
“They used to create businesses that locals can’t do. Now they’re trying to create businesses that locals always do,” he said.
Since May, the Balinese government has closed new foreign investment applications in 18 business categories, including motorcycle rentals, cafes, fitness centers, real estate and some accommodation businesses.
Bali’s appeal has not faded
So far, there are few signs that Bali’s tougher approach is driving digital nomads away.
Peter Johnson, the founder of Bali–established Vidhi Law Office in 2001, told Business Insider that he has not seen any clients change or cancel their visas.
Indonesia continues to offer a special visa for home-based workers, which they qualify for foreigners working abroad companies to live in the country while working remotely.
In late July, authorities announced that Indonesians had taken part in the club’s ‘Silent Disco’ run, pushing back on reports that locals had been excluded. Antara reported this. Wayan Koster, the governor of Bali, has made it clear that running clubs are not banned; they are simply not allowed to disturb the public.
For the time being, Entourage has largely disappeared from view. The Instagram account, with 12,900 followers, now has that only one message: An apology issued amid the backlash. There has been no public update on the separate immigration investigation or the return status of the two Dutch nationals.
But Bali is still teeming with digital nomads, and those looking for a running club have no shortage of options where to turn.
One club called Lari Pagi Bali, with 5,200 followers, continues to organize events. Rise Run Bali, which has more than 45,000 Instagram followers, held a pop-up on Friday.
“Everyone is welcome!” it said on Instagram. “To build a community you need a community and we can’t wait to celebrate a wonderful weekend with you!”
