Bali-bound travellers need not fear prosecution under new Indonesian laws that ban extramarital sex, Bali’s Governor says.
Moving to allay fears the new criminal code would deter tourists, Bali Governor Wayan Koster said his government would ensure “there will be no checking on marital status upon check-in at any tourism accommodation, such as hotels, villas, apartments, guest houses, lodges and spas”.
“Bali is Bali as usual, which is comfortable and safe to be visited,” Koster stated.
According to the BBC, Indonesia’s deputy justice minister also moved to assure prospective visitors that they would not be prosecuted.
“I want to emphasise for foreign tourists, please come to Indonesia because you will not be charged with this article,” Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej told the press.
The new laws, which Indonesia’s parliament passed last week, come into effect in three years.
But Koster confirmed that visitors could only be arrested if there was a complaint by a parent, spouse or child. This would seem to only put visitors who were involved in sexual relations with locals at risk of prosecution.
Those who “visit or live in Bali would not need to worry with regard to the entry into force of the Indonesian Criminal Code”, Koster said, adding new provisions in the criminal code had been amended from a stricter version to allow for “a better guarantee of everyone’s privacy and comfortableness”.
Travel advisor data shows Bali travel is growing
The Bali Governor also said data from travel agents, airlines, and accommodation and tour operators showed a rise in the number of people set to visit Bali from December 2022 to March 2023, refuting “hoax” news there had been cancellations of flights and hotel bookings, Reuters reported.
Officials said the new laws, which also prohibit cohabitation between unmarried couples, aim to uphold “Indonesian values”.
But after the criminal code was passed, many tourism stakeholders expressed concern about the laws. Among those was Indonesian tourism industry board deputy chief Maulana Yusran, who labelled the new code “totally counter-productive” when tourism was just starting to recover from the pandemic.
Bali’s tourism association is aiming to reach pre-Covid levels of international visitation of six million a year by 2025.
