Aussies warned as Bali continues to crack down on unruly tourists
The new requirement for tourists to Bali comes after a spate of unruly behaviour on the popular holiday island.
Aussie travellers heading to Bali will soon be handed a list of “Dos and Don’ts” when entering the popular tourist destination, frustrated local authorities confirmed this week.
A spate of recent bad behaviour appears to have prompted the decision, which was announced by the Head of the Regional Office of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Anggiat Napitupulu, on Monday. The card of rules will be given out to foreigners when they land so they cannot feign ignorance about what is and isn’t acceptable to do on their holiday.
“[It] will be created and handed over at immigration, so that the immigration can tuck the card into the foreigner’s passport when they land at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport,” Mr Napitupulu said during a press conference, the Bali Times reports.
He said the Tourism Office, the Bali Government and the Regional Office of the Bali Ministry of Law have had “several meetings” to discuss the “Dos and Don’ts” list.
“The tourism office is formulating the narrative. So, it will be either in the form of a pocket-sized sheet or a card,” he said, explaining that it has yet to be finalised. Local media also reports that dozens of large billboard are to be installed around Bali in multiple languages reminding travellers about regulations.
The news comes just weeks after the possibility of a $150 ‘tourist tax’ was once again debated by Balinese authorities. In April, an Aussie expat was reportedly booted from the holiday hotspot after she was caught on camera arguing about a $25 fine for not wearing a helmet on a scooter.
Tourists to use 'high degree of caution'
The set list of rules was first mentioned by Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno just over a year ago.
“This information must be conveyed in the midst of our efforts to restore the tourism sector and the creative economy,” he said, Indonesia Expat reports. “That in the midst of these efforts there is wisdom as well as respect for local customs. This must be continuously conveyed and disseminated.”
Not long after, Indonesia implemented a new criminal code, which includes a ban on sex outside of marriage — however the revisions do not come into force for three years. Under the changes, anyone who is drunk in a public place and is disturbing the order could face a fine of 10 million rupiahs (A$950), the ABC reports.
Additionally, a person who serves an already drunk customer alcohol can go to jail for a year, while those caught carrying, importing or distributing drugs can face anywhere from three to 20 years in prison. Tourists who fail to behave respectfully at holy places, including statues on the street, could also be jailed for up to a year, the publication said.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs is urging anyone who visits Indonesia to exercise a “high degree of caution”.
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