Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali has issued new warnings to travellers to explore the island’s cultural landscape with “confidence and grace” as it steps up a campaign to crack down on badly behaved guests. The tourism-dependent tropical destination’s beaches and lush rice fields attract millions of foreigners every year, but a rise in rule-breakers has led the local government to expel dozens of people last year for allegedly behaving in obscene ways or flouting local customs.
To curb rowdy behaviour and make the trip an “unforgettable experience”, the tourism department is urging visitors to respect the culture of the Hindu-majority island and dress “appropriately”, covering shoulders and knees especially in sacred places.
Foreign tourists relax on Bali’s Kuta Beach, some of whom have welcomed recent etiquette reminders. Photo: AFP
The latest advisory also warns tourists not to disrupt processions at religious sites and not to enter with open wounds.
The ministry advised celebrants not to defile holy sites, climb sacred trees or engage in illegal business activities.
The agency said following the list of do’s and don’ts would keep Bali “beautiful for future generations” and equip tourists “with the knowledge they need to explore Bali’s unique cultural landscape with confidence and grace.” Balinese Hindus, who make up about 90 percent of the island’s population, revere the island’s mountains as the home of their gods and ancestors.
The rise in rude behaviour forced local authorities last year to issue guidelines for tourists and launch law enforcement operations aimed at curbing misconduct by foreigners.
But those efforts have apparently failed to deter some travelers.
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Bali issues list of tourist dos and don’ts following scandal over unruly tourists
Bali issues list of tourist dos and don’ts following scandal over unruly tourists
Last weekend, a tourist reportedly yelled abuse at a tour guide and got into a fistfight after being scolded for jumping the queue at a popular beach observation deck.
While social media users have welcomed the recent etiquette reminder, they also shared a number of complaints, including plastic-littered beaches, harassing female tourists, exorbitant taxi fares and a lack of crosswalks and sidewalks. “I know there are problems everywhere and Bali is not paradise, but I also know there are still lots of amazing people there who make Bali a better place,” wrote one Instagram user.
Tourists sit amongst washed up rubble and garbage on Kuta Beach in Bali. Photo: AFP
Another said: “People use bins but no one seems to empty them. Beaches and rivers are full of plastic. It’s sad to see this beautiful country being ruined like this.”
According to the Bali Immigration Office, 1.3 million international tourists visited the island in the first quarter of this year.
