Australian travel advice for Indonesia, the threat of angry taxi drivers; comparative threat levels.

In DFAT’s (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) most recent update to its travel advisory page for Indonesia a new danger of visiting the country is noted, that is: Crime (confrontations between taxi drivers in Bali): smartraveller.gov.au

A dispute between rival taxi companies in Bali turned violent during a recent protest. While such incidents are rare and passengers have not been specifically targeted, you should exercise appropriate caution. If you are caught up in a confrontation between taxi drivers, you should seek to leave the taxi and the immediate area if it is safe to do so.

Apart from angry taxi drivers (local taxi companies and the Jakarta-based Blue Bird company are slugging it out for market share) the threat of rabies on Bali (and Nias) was also especially noted.

DFAT concludes its report with its main concern regarding Indonesia: terrorism:

Ask yourself whether, given your own personal circumstances, you’re comfortable travelling to Indonesia knowing there is a very high threat from terrorism and you may be caught up in a terrorist attack. Ask yourself whether travel could be deferred or an alternative destination chosen.

In general DFAT through its Smartraveller service uses five categories to judge the danger level for Australian travellers:

1. Be alert to own security
2. Exercise caution
3. High degree of caution
4. Reconsider your need to travel
5. Do not travel

Indonesia is listed in the second worst category:

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to…

Other countries which are included in this grouping:

• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• Mauritania
• Angola
• Haiti
• Pakistan
• Nigeria
• Liberia
• DR Congo
• Yemen
• Saudi Arabia
• Algeria
• Madagascar
• Zimbabwe
• Kyrgyz Republic

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Update: May 2012

Currently DFAT uses four categories of travel advice, they being:

1. Exercise normal safety precautions
2. Exercise a high degree of caution
3. Reconsider your need to travel
4. Do not travel

Most areas of Indonesia, including Bali, have seen their travel warnings downgraded from “reconsider your need to travel” to “exercise a high degree of caution”. The “reconsider the need to travel” warning remains in force for Central Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, and West Papua.