Viral Outcry Over Foreign Flags Flying on Bali Beaches Prompts Official Crackdown
A viral post by a tourist questioning the abundance of large foreign flags displayed at beach areas in Bali has prompted local authorities to take action, with the Legian village head personally intervening.
"Honest question — could we, in their country, set up a business and then fly the Indonesian flag?" asked the account @itsdarameutia in a post uploaded on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Legian Village Head Putu Eka Martini confirmed that community reports had been received regarding the installation of foreign flags. According to Eka, beach administrators had previously warned vendors not to fly foreign national flags, but the instructions were ignored.
"The beach administrators had already warned the beach vendors about flying foreign flags, but it turns out they didn't heed the warning," Martini said when contacted on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Eka suggested the flags were likely linked to the World Cup and were being used as distinctive markers or additional decoration to attract visitors.
"It's probably connected to the World Cup, and also used as a sort of distinctive feature for their outlets or kiosks," Eka explained.
Following the complaints, the Legian Village Administration together with beach administrators carried out enforcement on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, requesting vendors to take down the flags displayed at their outlets and kiosks.
"We have also asked the beach administrators to carry out supervision, including monitoring vendors who are still displaying foreign flags, to take them down before we impose stricter sanctions," Eka stressed.
According to Eka, the flags were ordered removed because they bore no connection to official state activities, such as international conferences or events formally involving multiple nations. Beyond responding to public complaints, the enforcement was also carried out on grounds of aesthetics and nationalism.
"The installation of foreign national flags has no close connection to any event or official activity, such as a summit or activities formally involving multiple nations," Eka explained.
"Honest question — could we, in their country, set up a business and then fly the Indonesian flag?" asked the account @itsdarameutia in a post uploaded on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Legian Village Head Putu Eka Martini confirmed that community reports had been received regarding the installation of foreign flags. According to Eka, beach administrators had previously warned vendors not to fly foreign national flags, but the instructions were ignored.
"The beach administrators had already warned the beach vendors about flying foreign flags, but it turns out they didn't heed the warning," Martini said when contacted on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Eka suggested the flags were likely linked to the World Cup and were being used as distinctive markers or additional decoration to attract visitors.
"It's probably connected to the World Cup, and also used as a sort of distinctive feature for their outlets or kiosks," Eka explained.
Following the complaints, the Legian Village Administration together with beach administrators carried out enforcement on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, requesting vendors to take down the flags displayed at their outlets and kiosks.
"We have also asked the beach administrators to carry out supervision, including monitoring vendors who are still displaying foreign flags, to take them down before we impose stricter sanctions," Eka stressed.
According to Eka, the flags were ordered removed because they bore no connection to official state activities, such as international conferences or events formally involving multiple nations. Beyond responding to public complaints, the enforcement was also carried out on grounds of aesthetics and nationalism.
"The installation of foreign national flags has no close connection to any event or official activity, such as a summit or activities formally involving multiple nations," Eka explained.