DENPASAR, Bali — China’s Consulate General in Denpasar has issued a pointed public assessment of safety conditions facing Chinese tourists across Bali and Indonesia’s eastern provinces, detailing traffic accidents, a persistent pickpocketing problem, and unlicensed tour guides operating on some of the region’s most dangerous trekking routes.
The concerns were raised during a Tourism Safety Coordination Meeting held at the Tsinghua South East Asia Center Bali in Kura Kura Bali, Denpasar, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as Chinese arrivals to the region continue to climb sharply.
A Rapidly Growing, and Increasingly Exposed, Visitor Base
Deputy Consul General Zhu Yu said Chinese tourist arrivals to Bali reached approximately 540,000 in 2025, a 19% increase from the previous year. Between January and May 2026 alone, arrivals had already reached roughly 243,000, up 11% year-on-year.
The growth extends beyond Bali. In Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), more than 58,000 Chinese tourists took boat tours in 2025, double the figure from 2024. By the end of May this year, that number had already surpassed 35,000, equivalent to 60% of last year’s entire total.
“The consular protection efforts carried out by our Consulate General have achieved positive results,” Zhu said, framing the safety briefing as part of an ongoing effort rather than a response to crisis.
Traffic Accidents: A Sobering Track Record
Zhu detailed a pattern of incidents affecting Chinese tourists during their time in Bali and NTT, starting with road safety. Over the past year, 25 traffic accidents involving 120 Chinese nationals were recorded. One notable incident occurred in August 2025, when a boat accident at Sanur Harbor claimed the lives of two Chinese tourists.
“The most serious was an accident in northern Bali Province on November 14, 2025. This was the most fatal traffic accident since our Consulate General was established, and the most serious traffic accident involving Chinese nationals in Bali in more than a decade,” Zhu said.
He called on relevant authorities to pay serious attention to monitoring drivers working beyond legal hour limits and vehicles operating without proper registration.
A Persistent Pickpocketing Problem
Zhu also highlighted a rise in pickpocketing incidents targeting tourists. Over the past year, the Chinese Consulate in Denpasar received dozens of reports from tourists seeking assistance after losing valuables.
“They reported losing valuables such as phones and passports to pickpockets riding motorcycles through areas including Kuta, Jimbaran, Sanur, and surrounding areas. There have also been cases of necklaces and jewelry being snatched from victims’ necks by perpetrators riding motorcycles in front of hotels and restaurants,” he said.
Beyond the financial loss, Zhu noted these incidents have also caused injuries, as victims fall during the snatching. While he acknowledged government efforts to install surveillance cameras at several tourist destinations, he said pickpocketing frequently occurs in narrow alleys near tourist accommodations, areas less likely to be covered by such cameras.
“Perpetrators move at high speed and conceal their identities carefully, resulting in a low case resolution rate and making stolen property extremely difficult to recover,” he said.
Uneven Safety Infrastructure
Beyond crime, Zhu said improvements to safety facilities and supporting measures remain inconsistent across the region. He specifically called for early warning systems for beach hazards during the rainy season, following drowning incidents in December 2025 and during the early rainy season of 2026.
According to accounts from victims’ families, Zhu said no warnings were issued by beach management regarding hazardous conditions at the time. He also noted that first aid facilities available at beach management posts remain minimal.
Gaps in Accommodation Oversight and Tour Guide Licensing
Zhu raised concerns about lax oversight of tourist accommodations, citing a case in which a Chinese tourist died from severe gastroenteritis after staying at a lodging in Canggu, Bali.
“We also found that the restaurant at that accommodation did not have an official health permit or other business licensing documents, and the cleanliness conditions at the lodging were very poor, creating a high risk of disease transmission,” Zhu said.
Beyond Bali, Zhu cited a case involving four Chinese tourists trekking Mount Rinjani in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) who were found to have been guided by an individual without official licensing.
“This nearly endangered their lives. To date, relevant agencies have not imposed sanctions on the guide or the travel agency responsible, nor directed any corrective action,” he said.
A Call for Coordinated Action
The Chinese Consulate in Denpasar urged relevant authorities to revisit these issues in order to help make Bali, NTB, and NTT safer and more comfortable destinations for tourists, particularly those from China.
“We hope to continue working together sincerely and supporting one another, to create a conducive tourism environment across the three provinces under our consular jurisdiction, strengthen people-to-people ties between China and Indonesia, and help build a shared community of common destiny between our two countries,” Zhu said.
Consul General Zhang Zhisheng added that safety forms the foundation of any tourism destination, arguing that high-quality tourism development is impossible without it.
“The Chinese government consistently pays close attention to the safety of its citizens abroad, adhering firmly to the principle of prioritizing the people and prioritizing the preservation of life,” he said.
