Bali authorities have actually provided brand-new standards to attend to “misbehaviour” amongst foreign travelers in a quote to safeguard the Indonesian island’s cultural stability, consisting of a guideline restricting menstruating ladies from going into spiritual temple locations.
The guidelines, provided by Bali guv I Wayan Koster on 24 March, consist of appreciating spiritual websites, dressing decently, acting nicely, paying a traveler levy online, utilizing certified guides and lodgings, following traffic laws, and exchanging currency at authorised outlets.
Guv Koster stated: “We provided a comparable policy before, however as things alter, we require to adjust. This makes sure that Bali’s tourist stays considerate, sustainable, and in consistency with our regional worths.”
According to the brand-new standards, restrictions consist of going into spiritual temple locations without authorization, littering, utilizing single-use plastics, unsuitable behaviour, working without authorizations, and unlawful activities. Mr Koster stated: “I am executing this circular as an instant step to manage foreign travelers while they remain in Bali.”
The brand-new standards encourage that foreign travelers “ought to observe and honour Balinese customizeds, customs, and cultural practices, particularly throughout events” and “gown properly when checking out temples, traveler destinations, or public areas”.
Under the brand-new standards, “travelers are anticipated to use modest and considerate clothes”. The mayor has actually likewise asked visitors to Bali to “act respectfully whether at spiritual websites, dining establishments, shopping locations, or public roadways”.
Mr Koster likewise stated that “travelers who stop working to pay the traveler levy will be rejected access to tourist attractions, and those captured breaching the policies will deal with legal repercussions in accordance with Indonesian law”.
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The brand-new standards discuss that foreign travelers are not enabled to “get in spiritual temple locations unless they are worshippers using standard Balinese clothes”. It includes: “Menstruating ladies are likewise restricted from going into these locations.”
Travelers are likewise not enabled to “climb up spiritual trees or monoliths– this consists of taking unsuitable or naked pictures at spiritual websites”.
Usage of single-use plastics– plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic-packaged beverages” have actually likewise been prohibited.
Bali is likewise prohibiting “swearing”, and has actually asked travelers to prevent “triggering disruptions, or being impolite to residents, authorities, or fellow travelers”. The mayor likewise stated that “sharing hate speech or false information on social networks is likewise restricted”.
Mr Koster stated: “Bali is a stunning, spiritual island, and we anticipate our visitors to reveal the very same regard that we reach them.”
Mr Koster’s statement comes simply days before Nyepi– Bali’s spiritual day of silence– set for Saturday, 19 March 29 this year. Throughout the 24-hour duration from 6am on Saturday to 6am on Sunday, everybody, consisting of travelers, should stay inside your home.
“We have actually prepared an unique group to carry out an operation. Foreign travelers who are naughty will be instantly handled strongly,” the guv was estimated as stating by The Bali Sun.
He likewise stated that Bali’s civil service cops system will carefully keep an eye on traveler behaviour and make sure compliance with the brand-new cultural standards.
Bali has actually been battling with problems of overtourism and misbehaving visitors for several years. In 2023, authorities thought about presenting a traveler tax to prevent “inexpensive travelers who tend to trigger a great deal of issues”. In 2019, Mr Koster recommended that authorities ought to simply “send them home” after an Instagram influencer couple was captured on cam sprinkling themselves with holy water at a temple.
Likewise, over the last few years, a Russian male apologised after positioning semi-naked on a spiritual website, while a Russian female was deported for taking naked pictures in front of a spiritual tree.
In 2024, Indonesia saw a substantial increase in worldwide tourist, with 13.9 million visitors compared to 11.68 million in 2023, according to the nation’s tourist ministry information.