Advertisement
Indonesia
This Week in AsiaLifestyle & Culture

In Bali’s battle with badly behaved tourists, a dos and don’ts nudge in the right direction

  • The Indonesian resort island is sick of rowdy rule-breakers exposing themselves in public, defiling sacred spaces and disrespecting local customs

2-MIN READ2-MIN
Foreign tourists take pictures on a beach in Seminyak last month. Bali deported dozens of badly behaved foreigners last year, but the crackdown has failed to deter some travellers. Photo: EPA-EFE
SCMP’s Asia desk
Indonesia’s holiday hotspot of Bali has issued a fresh reminder for travellers to navigate the island’s cultural landscape with “confidence and grace”, as officials step up a campaign against misbehaving guests.
The tourism-reliant tropical destination’s beaches and lush rice fields attract millions of foreigners annually, but a rise in rule-breakers prompted the local government to deport dozens of people last year over incidents including indecent exposure and disrespecting local customs.

To keep rowdy behaviour at bay and turn trips into “unforgettable experiences”, the tourism board has called on visitors to honour the predominantly Hindu island’s culture by “dressing appropriately”, especially in sacred places, by covering the shoulders and below the knees.

Foreign tourists relax on Bali’s Kuta Beach. Some visitors welcomed the recent etiquette reminder. Photo: AFP
Foreign tourists relax on Bali’s Kuta Beach. Some visitors welcomed the recent etiquette reminder. Photo: AFP

The latest advisory also reminded tourists not to disturb any processions at religious places or enter them with an open wound.

Advertisement

It advised revellers to avoid defiling sacred sites, climbing holy trees and engaging in illegal business activities.

Following the list of dos and don’ts would keep Bali “beautiful for generations to come”, the agency said, and equip tourists “with the knowledge you need to navigate Bali’s unique cultural landscape with confidence and grace”.
Advertisement
Last year, a German tourist crashed a dance show at a Ubud temple by walking on stage naked, while a Danish woman was detained for exposing her genitals in public.
A Russian man was also deported last year for sharing a photo of himself half-naked atop a sacred mountain, after a Canadian tourist did the same in 2022.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x