Saturday, September 21, 2024 Indonesia takes a bold step to curb tourist misconduct, significantly boosting Bali tourism while preserving local traditions and culture for the future. The Indonesian government is maintaining its strict stance against inappropriate and illegal behavior by foreign tourists in Bali. Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan emphasized that this firm approach aims to safeguard Bali’s rich cultural heritage while promoting the local tourism industry.
The zero-tolerance policy targets drug use, public nudity, and open intoxication, aiming to curb actions that have caused frustration among the local community. Despite tougher regulations and a new US$10 cultural preservation tax, Bali welcomed approximately 3.89 million tourists in the first half of the year.
Authorities have also introduced a specialized police unit to support visitors. Tangible Impact Stricter public behavior laws were introduced last year following several incidents of foreigners blatantly disregarding local customs and engaging in indecent acts. By August 2024, Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights in Bali reported the deportation of 157 foreign nationals, while 194 individuals were detained at the immigration center awaiting deportation.
Immigration Director-General Silmy Karim highlighted the need for heightened vigilance as foreign tourist activity increases, noting that most violations came from tourists hailing from Australia, China, Nigeria, and Russia..
