Bali embraced digital nomads. Now it's reckoning with the growing pains.
Bali is facing social friction as local residents push back against the behavior of digital nomads and foreign tourists. Authorities have begun cracking down on rule-breaking, including deporting individuals involved in controversial public events.
Why it matters
The tension highlights the growing conflict between local communities and the 'digital nomad' economy in popular global travel destinations.
Bali is cracking down on foreigners who are flouting local rules and customs. Jaromir/Getty Images In July, a popular running club became a flash point in a debate over how foreigners in Bali conduct themselves. The episode comes as Bali cracks down on foreigners accused of breaking rules and disrupting life on the island. Despite the tougher approach, there are few signs that Bali is losing its appeal to digital nomads. Every morning, running clubs weave through the streets of Canggu, the busy beach town on the southwest coast of Bali. They regularly pass along the Canggu Shortcut, a narrow road near Juryco Nugraha's tattoo studio, where he also lives upstairs. Nugraha, who goes by the name Kane, had grown used to them. "You can hear their steps and people talking," he said.
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