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SCMP’s Asia desk

The governor of Bali has updated guidelines for international tourists, urging them to respect local customs and vowing to take strict action against “naughty” foreigners.
I Wayan Koster, the provincial governor of the Indonesian island, issued a government statement on Monday for foreign tourists to address concerns about their behaviour. This update follows a similar announcement in 2023.
“As things change, we need to adapt,” Koster said in the statement.
“This ensures that Bali’s tourism remains respectful, sustainable and in harmony with our local values.”
The regulations require tourists to respect Bali’s religious customs, conduct transactions exclusively in local currency and obey traffic rules.

Tourists are also prohibited from entering sacred temple areas unless for religious purposes, using offensive language or actions, or running businesses without proper permits.
A notable addition in the regulations was the introduction of a mandatory tourism levy of 150,000 rupiah (US$9), which travellers must pay electronically through the government website before leaving the island.
The updated rules were announced ahead of Nyepi, Bali’s sacred silent day, which will be celebrated on Saturday.
On this day, everyone in Bali, including tourists, must stay indoors.
The island’s governor on Monday said the new guidelines would be strictly enforced.
Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly
I Wayan Koster, Bali’s provincial governor
“We have prepared a special team to conduct an operation. Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly,” he said, as quoted by The Bali Sun.
Local academics also said they had seen a worrying trend of foreigners with tourist visas running businesses illegally.
Professor Putu Anom, dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Surabaya, said that while small and medium-sized tourism businesses on the island struggled as more tourists planned trips themselves, illegal services offered by foreigners holding tourist visas had worsened the situation.
“There are tourists who stay in Bali for a long time and [offer tourism services] to their friends,” he told The Bali Sun.
“That must be prohibited, and the government must be firm.”
He added that Bali was facing an oversupply of tourist services, especially in the hospitality sector, and further warned that it might lead to an economic crash.


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Indonesia’s Bali to crack down on ‘naughty’ foreigners with new rules and tourism levy

The new guidelines for foreign tourists were issued to curb their misbehaviour