Nargiz Issayeva has just returned from a manicure, her freshly painted fingernails continuing to glide swiftly across the keyboard of her laptop. Although she runs an agency in Kazakhstan, the 32-year-old lives and works in Bali, Indonesia. She is one of more than 3,000 digital nomads operating on the popular tourist island.
“This is the capital of anyone who wants to work while constantly exploring nature,” she asserted.
According to DW, the archipelago is making efforts to attract foreign visitors, especially individuals like Issayeva. From the end of 2022, foreigners with at least $130,000 in their bank accounts will be granted a “second home” visa and allowed to stay here for 10 years.
Indonesia has now started offering visas to skilled workers or wealthy groups from other countries. Widodo Ekatjahjana, head of Indonesia's immigration department, said the move was aimed at boosting the country's economy after the Covid-19 pandemic.
International visitors overload
Indonesia is one of the most popular destinations for remote workers. It has a reliable digital infrastructure and a high standard of living, while the cost of living is relatively low. Digital nomads also don’t have to deal with a lot of paperwork. In fact, new visa holders don’t have to pay taxes on income earned outside Indonesia.
Additionally, the 211a, a basic visitor visa, also allows foreigners to live here for 180 days while working for an international company. However, not everyone knows this. That is why most foreigners only apply for standard visas and have difficulty working as digital nomads.
Foreigners can easily pursue a digital nomad career in Bali thanks to its flexible visa policy.
Daniel (Belgium) lives in Canggu, a coastal village in southern Bali that has become a digital nomad mecca. The most common sight when he leaves his house is foreigners working on laptops, in restaurants and cafes.
“Everything about Bali is great. It’s very international and I can make money anywhere thanks to the wide WiFi coverage,” said the 25-year-old.
Anggiat Napitupulu, a representative from the local immigration office, admitted that the monitoring of digital nomads and international freelancers is not very strict. The checks only happen when there is a complaint. Otherwise, officers cannot search laptops or force travelers to tell them what they are doing.
Local people have a headache
However, after-work partying is booming on the island paradise. This has upset the islanders. Many have sent petitions to the local authorities. They say that their sleep is being violated by loud music that lasts from afternoon to late at night. The loud noise from the bars even shakes the windows of some nearby temples.
Additionally, a petition signed by more than 8,000 locals also reflected on public drunkenness, drug use, and public urination by international visitors.
“I completely understand this anger. In fact, many foreigners do not educate themselves. They come here and make a mess. However, at the moment, the island is balanced between peace and bustle,” Nargiz Issayeva shared.
Indigenous people are practicing prayer in Bali.
Several hoteliers expressed similar concerns. As the digital nomads continue to flock to the island, their madness could erode the island’s charm. But they acknowledged that they remain economically dependent on the tourists, whether directly or indirectly.
According to Nyoman Sukma Arida, a professor at Udayana University (Bali), the island should take advantage of this period to diversify its economy. In fact, all activities are still focused on tourism.
“Bali is in a gamble. If there is a volcanic eruption or a terrorist attack, no tourists will come here. Instead, the government should focus on agriculture and small industrial enterprises to maintain revenue,” he asserted.
For now, however, people in Bali seem relieved to see the island recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Indonesian Tourism Association predicts the island will welcome 6 million foreign visitors by 2025, including a large number of digital nomads.
