new tourism rules in bali

BALI LAWS & STRICT RULES That Will Affect Your Next Trip [UPDATED AS OF JANUARY 2024!]

Bali has recently implemented strict rules and new Bali law for tourists to preserve the sanctity of its cherished traditions. As of July 2023, travelers planning to visit this Indonesian paradise must know the new strict rules to ensure a respectful experience. In this blog, we will walk you through the Bali laws and regulations all tourists must abide by during their stay in Bali. *Update: This blog is updated as of January 2024 to provide the latest insights into Bali tourist tax regulations!

First time in Bali? Check Bali Travel Guide For First Timers (Updated July 2023!)

and Our Top Things To Do In Bali

Bali Law 1. Stricter Tourist Motorcycle Rentals

Bali has always been a popular destination for tourists looking to explore the island’s beauty on a motorcycle. Following the recently announced strict rules and Bali laws, tourists can only hire motorcycles from businesses formally registered with the relevant trade agencies or the transportation renting association in Bali.

Gone are the days when tourists could casually rent motorcycles from guesthouse owners, or unregistered rental operators. To legally rent a bike, tourists must approach licensed rental companies, which have undergone proper scrutiny and verification processes. Additionally, tourists must possess an international driving license that explicitly covers them for riding motorcycles.

The reason behind these strict rules is a rising concern over foreign tourists’ reckless behavior on the roads. There have been incidents of tourists flouting traffic regulations, riding motorcycles without helmets, and even without a valid driving license. These dangerous practices put tourists at risk and pose significant dangers to other road users and locals.  

Despite these strict regulations, tourists can still rent motorcycles in Bali with a valid international driver’s license, but only from registered and licensed businesses. Stay safe and responsible while exploring the island!

Bali Law 2. Cohabitation Between Unmarried Couples

Recent changes in Indonesia’s legal landscape have imposed new strict rules and Bali laws on unmarried couples from cohabitating or engaging in sexual relationships. The legislation primarily targets Indonesian citizens, aiming to uphold “Indonesian values” within the country.

Notably, tourists visiting Indonesia won’t face charges under this law. This allows them to stay together even if unmarried without any legal repercussions, and they will not be required to show a marriage license.

With the assurance that tourists won’t face charges under the law, Bali remains an inviting destination. However, it remains essential for both citizens and tourists to be aware of these significant changes in Indonesian and Bali law and respect local customs and norms during their stay.

Bali Law 3. Restricted to Licensed Accommodations Only (No Unlicensed Airbnb or Guesthouses!)

Under the updated strict rules, tourists can only stay at registered hotels and villas. This means that accommodations must be officially recognized and approved by the relevant authorities in Bali.

Staying at unregistered places, such as unlicensed Airbnb rentals, guesthouses, or B&Bs, is strictly prohibited. Violation of this Bali law and regulation can lead to serious consequences, as authorities may conduct investigations and carry out raids to enforce compliance. 

Check out our recommended 5-day Bali itinerary !

The reason behind this Bali law is to crack down on accommodations that do not pay the required taxes. By limiting tourists to registered hotels and villas, the government aims to ensure that all businesses operating in the hospitality sector contribute their fair share of taxes.  

For a memorable experience, we highly recommend checking out AYONA VILLA and THE PURIST VILLAS RESORT & SPA . Not only are these accommodations known for providing exceptional stays, but they are also registered and licensed, ensuring a worry-free and delightful trip in Bali.

Strict Rule 4. No Tourism Activities in the Mountains and Volcanoes (Yet To Be Imposed)

The government is planning to impose a new Bali law for a complete ban on tourism activities in Bali’s mountains and volcanoes. This prohibition will encompass all 22 peaks on the island, including popular trekking destinations like Mount Batur.

The decision to implement this ban comes as a response to foreign tourists misbehaving and disrespecting the locals and the sacred mountains. Last May, a German woman was arrested for stripping naked and disrupting a Balinese dance show in Ubud. An incident involving a Russian tourist posing nude on a sacred 700-year-old banyan tree is just another example of such disrespectful behavior.

Another case involved a tourist baring his butt on Mount Agung, an act seen as an insult to the mountain’s spiritual significance. Such actions have provoked outrage among locals, who consider these mountains to be inhabited by Gods and hold them in deep reverence.  

The ban, if implemented, is expected to be permanent and will apply to all recreational activities in these revered natural landscapes. However, certain exceptions will be made for religious ceremonies, disaster management, and special activities not intended for tourism.

Check out our Top Instagrammable Places in Ubud!

Strict Rule 5. Bali Tourist Tax (Updated as of January 2024!)

As tourism continues to thrive in Bali, the government is taking proactive measures to promote responsible behavior among tourists. Recently, Bali’s Governor announced the introduction of a $10 tourist tax, which is expected to take effect in mid-2024. The tax will be a one-time fee that foreign visitors must pay electronically upon arrival to the island. 

*Update: Effective February 14, 2024, in accordance with Bali law, tourists planning a trip to Bali are required to pay IDR 150,000 or USD 10 before entering the province. It’s important to note that certain individuals, such as Diplomatic and official visa holders, Conveyance crew, KITAS/ KITAP holders, family unification, golden and student visa holders, as well as specific non-tourist visa holders, are exempted from the tourist tax with advance application up to one month ahead. 

To facilitate the payment process, a variety of options are available, including: 

• QRIS payment on LOVE BALI website
• Bank transfer
• Virtual account
• Mobile application (soon available on Google Play and Apple App Store

Alternatively, payment can be made upon arrival at either I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport or Benoa Bali Harbor. However, it is strongly advised to pay online prior to arrival to streamline the process and enhance convenience.

Bali Law 6. Behave Respectfully or Risk Being Deported

Respecting local customs and cultural norms is paramount when traveling to any destination, and Bali is no exception. The island’s rich cultural heritage and deeply held religious beliefs call for visitors to be mindful of their attire and behavior, particularly when visiting holy places, tourist attractions, and public areas.

Recently, there have been unfortunate incidents involving foreign tourists who displayed inappropriate behavior, including posing naked for social media photos at sacred sites and even walking naked into a Bali temple. Such actions have offended the local community and disrespected the sanctity of these revered locations, leading to immediate deportation for those involved.

To ensure a positive and respectful experience in Bali, tourists are urged to wear polite, reasonable, and appropriate clothing when visiting public spaces, tourist attractions, or holy places.  

Also read: Guide to Tegalalang Rice Terrace in Ubud

Strict Rule 7. Working/Overstaying Without Proper Permit (Fines up to USD 60+ per day!)

Foreign tourists in Bali must have the necessary identity documents and valid stay permits. Whether traveling for vacation or work, having the correct permits is essential to avoid legal issues. If you overstay or work without a permit, you can be fined up to Rp. 1 million (roughly USD 60+) per day, face deportation, or even be blacklisted from future entry!

Tourists can apply for Visa on Arrival or B211A Visa to extend their stay in Bali. While Bali welcomes tourists from various backgrounds, it is crucial to remember that we are guests in this beautiful land.

Strict Rule 8. Total Island Lockdown, No Leaving Accommodation on Nyepi – Including Tourists!

Nyepi, also known as the “Day of Silence,” is one of the most important religious holidays in Bali, observed by the Balinese Hindus with great reverence and devotion. During Nyepi, the island enters a period of complete silence and self-reflection. Various rituals and ceremonies mark the day, and the Balinese retreat into a meditative state, abstaining from activities that may disturb the day’s tranquility.

For tourists visiting Bali during Nyepi, it is essential to understand and respect the significance of this religious holiday. During this time, tourists are not allowed to roam or leave their accommodation, just like the locals. This restriction intends to honor the occasion’s solemnity and create an atmosphere of introspection and spiritual contemplation across the island.

In the past, there have been unfortunate incidents where tourists did not fully grasp the significance of Nyepi and attempted to venture out during the Day of Silence. Such actions have led to clashes with locals, as the disruption of this important cultural event is profoundly offensive and disrespectful to the Balinese people.

To avoid misunderstandings or conflicts, tourists are urged to abide by the rules and customs of Nyepi. It is recommended to purchase necessary food supplies and plan for a quiet day indoors, embracing the spirit of reflection and meditation that the day represents.  

Bali Law 9. Payments Using Indonesian Standard QR Codes / Rupiah Currency Only

Using cryptocurrency or violating other payment provisions will result in firm actions. It is crucial to transact in rupiah currency and abide by local payment methods.  

Read our 5 must-try vegan dishes in Bali.

Strict Rule 10. Compulsory Guided Visits to Tourist Attractions

Based on our experience during our latest trip to Bali in July 2023, we did not observe strict enforcement of the requirement for tourists to be accompanied by licensed tour guides when visiting tourist attractions. We were able to visit various places without the presence of a licensed tour guide, and there were no issues in doing so.

However, we acknowledge that having licensed tour guides can still add significant value to a tourist’s experience. Licensed tour guides possess in-depth knowledge of Balinese culture, history, and traditions. This allows them to offer valuable insights and enrich the overall travel experience. Additionally, they can play a crucial role in promoting responsible and culturally sensitive tourism practices.

An essential aspect to consider is transportation, especially in areas where certain forms of transportation, like rideshare services, might be restricted. Hiring a licensed tour guide can be particularly beneficial in such situations, as they can arrange for transportation, ensuring a smooth and convenient travel experience.

Read our 10 Must-See Temples in Bali!

Strict Rule 10. Rideshare Services Strictly Prohibited in Designated Bali Areas

When it comes to using ride-sharing services in Bali, it’s crucial to note that not all areas permit their operation and strict rules. Certain locations, including airport pickups, Ubud, Canggu, and select spots in Seminyak, strictly prohibit ride-sharing services. These restrictions have been put in place to manage traffic, and support local transportation businesses.

Tourists relying on ride-sharing apps for transportation should be aware of these limitations and plan accordingly. In areas where ride-sharing is not allowed, alternative transportation options such as taxis, private drivers, or rentals are readily available to ensure seamless travel experiences while adhering to local regulations.

Here are some additional strict rules and new laws in Bali that tourists must adhere to:

• Exchange currency at authorized money changers to avoid scams and ensure fair exchange rates.
• Avoid entering the main prayer areas except for worship and reflection.
• Do not climb sacred trees.
• Avoid littering and pollution.
• Minimize single-use plastics.
• Always show respectful behavior.
• Avoid engaging in illegal activities.

By adhering to these strict rules and Bali laws, tourists can contribute to a positive and respectful travel experience in Bali while helping to preserve the island’s unique charm and cultural heritage. Responsible tourism ensures that visitors and locals can continue to enjoy the beauty and spirit of Bali for generations to come.  

Happy traveling,

Sue & Renesh

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI

Luxury Romantic Villa – AYONA VILLA : A luxurious in the heart of Seminyak, Bali. Ayona Villa features a private pool, lush gardens, and modern amenities, providing the perfect setting for a relaxing vacation. It’s tranquil atmosphere and comfortable facilities make it an ideal choice for travelers seeking a peaceful and rejuvenating stay. Find the latest prices for Ayona Villa here .

Luxury Romantic Villa – THE PURIST VILLAS RESORT & SPA : Experience serenity where you can indulge in private villas equipped with contemporary facilities, surrounded by lush gardens and a rejuvenating spa. The resort provides traditional Balinese activities like rice field trekking and cooking classes. Find the latest prices for The Purist Villas Resort & Spa here .

You can check out here for the best budget hostels in Bali.

For other places to stay in Bali, click here  for a list and the latest prices.

OUR MUST-HAVE BALI TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Compression Packing Cubes – BAGSMART Travel Organizer Compression Packing Cube Sets are perfect for the over-packer – I try to pretend I’m not, but I’m really only kidding myself. These are perfect for making sure you get all the clothes you want to look cute for every possible occasion on your holiday getaway! 

Elastic Sleeves for Leak Proofing Travel – TRANOMOS 8 Pack Elastic Sleeves Silicone Bottle Covers are a lifesaver for leak-proofing travel, and really even for your everyday life. Just pop them over a bottle and no more leaks. I wish I knew about these earlier, would have saved me countless wasted sunscreen, toner, serums, aloe, the list is long! Pro-tip – They work better for slightly smaller-sized bottles and non-pump-type bottles. 

Anti-Theft Messenger Bag –  Anti-Theft Classic Essential Messenger Bag  is the perfect solution to keep your belongings secure while exploring a new city. With its slash-resistant body and lockable zippers, this bag protects your essentials from pickpockets and thieves.

Waterproof Bag – HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag is a game-changer for any adventurer looking to keep their belongings dry and secure during any water activity. The durable and lightweight design allows you to easily store and carry all your essential items while enjoying any water-based adventure. Whether kayaking, fishing, island hopping, or just lounging at the beach, HEETA has got you covered! 

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Discover the Exquisite World of Art at Feliz’Eye: A Must-Visit Art Gallery in Ubud

• December 16, 2023

Looking Back to Bali’s New Tourist Rules 2023: Do’s & Don’ts For Travellers!

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As Bali continues to be a global tourist hotspot, the provincial government, led by Governor Wayan Koster, has implemented a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at shaping a new paradigm for foreign tourists on the Island of the Gods. Through Gubernatorial Circular No. 4 of 2023 , effective from May 31, 2023, tourists are now subject to 12 obligations and 8 prohibitions, ushering in a new era of responsible and culturally sensitive tourism.

Tourist Obligations (Do’s):

• Respect for Sacred Sites: Tourists are required to show reverence for the sanctity of puras (temples), pratimas (religious icons), and other sacred religious symbols.
• Adherence to Traditions and Culture: A sincere respect for local customs, traditions, arts, and culture, as well as the wisdom of the Balinese community during ceremonies and rituals, is mandatory.
• Appropriate Attire: Tourists must wear modest and appropriate clothing when visiting sacred areas, tourist attractions, public places, and during activities in Bali .
• Polite Behavior: Maintaining polite conduct in sacred areas, tourist spots, restaurants, shopping areas, roads, and other public spaces is emphasized.
• Guided Tours: Tourists are required to be accompanied by licensed tour guides who possess knowledge of Bali’s natural conditions, customs, traditions, and local wisdom when visiting tourist attractions.
• Currency Exchange at Authorized Points: Foreign currency exchange must be conducted at authorized money changers, both banks and non-banks, displaying the necessary permits and QR codes from Bank Indonesia.
• QR Code Payments: Payment transactions are to be made using the Standard Indonesian QR Code.
• Currency Transactions in Rupiah: All transactions are to be carried out using the Indonesian Rupiah.
• Compliance with Traffic Rules: Tourists must adhere to Indonesian traffic regulations, including possessing a valid International or National Driving License, following traffic rules, wearing appropriate attire, using helmets, obeying traffic signs, and not exceeding passenger capacities. Additionally, driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances is strictly prohibited.
• Use of Official Transportation: Tourists are encouraged to use officially recognized four-wheeled or two-wheeled transportation services.
• Accommodation at Licensed Establishments: Staying in accommodation businesses with valid permits is obligatory.
• Adherence to Specific Regulations: Tourists are required to comply with all specific regulations applicable to each tourist attraction and activity.

Prohibitions for Foreign Tourists (Don’ts):

• Entry into Sacred Places: Foreign tourists are prohibited from entering utamaning mandala and madyaning mandala, sacred or sanctified places, except for prayer purposes while wearing Balinese traditional attire or for religious ceremonies when not menstruating.
• Climbing Sacred Trees: Climbing sacred trees is strictly forbidden.
• Disrespectful Behavior in Sacred Places: Any behavior that desecrates sacred places, including climbing sacred structures or taking indecent photos, is not allowed.
• Improper Disposal of Waste: Indiscriminate littering and polluting lakes, springs, rivers, seas, and public areas are strictly prohibited.
• Use of Single-Use Plastics: Tourists are not allowed to use single-use plastics, including plastic bags, styrofoam, and plastic straws.
• Inappropriate Language and Behavior: Use of offensive language, disrespectful behavior, causing disturbances, and acting aggressively towards authorities, the government, local communities, or fellow tourists, either directly or indirectly through social media, is strictly prohibited.
• Engaging in Business Activities Without Proper Documentation: Tourists are prohibited from working or engaging in business activities without proper documentation issued by authorized agencies.
• Involvement in Illegal Activities: Participation in illegal activities, including the trade of illegal items such as flora and fauna, cultural artifacts, and sacred objects, as well as the sale and purchase of illegal drugs, is strictly forbidden.

Sanctions for Violators:

Governor Koster emphasizes that foreign tourists who violate these regulations will face strict sanctions or legal processes according to Indonesian laws and regulations. The government urges all stakeholders to earnestly understand, implement, and disseminate these regulations to all their personnel and foreign tourists visiting Bali.

Additionally, Governor Koster calls upon tourism service providers and the Balinese community to refrain from facilitating the misconduct of foreign tourists. He emphasizes the collective responsibility to uphold the good name and image of Bali’s tourism, fostering a cultural, quality, and dignified tourism environment.

Looking Back at the New Rules in 2023

As the calendar turned to 2023, Bali witnessed a myriad of behaviors from foreign tourists that raised concerns about rule violations and the sanctity of worship places on the island. In response, the Directorate of Traffic (Ditlantas) of the Bali Regional Police recorded a significant number of traffic violations, with a notable portion attributed to foreign tourists. Notably, around 147 out of 367 traffic violation cases involved tourists, particularly for not wearing helmets and improper vehicle registration.

In addressing these challenges, the Bali government, under Governor Wayan Koster’s leadership, issued Gubernatorial Circular No. 4 of 2023. This circular outlines a framework for the conduct of foreign tourists in Bali, encompassing rules for places of worship, tourist attractions, public spaces, business activities, traffic, and general behavior. To enforce these regulations, the Bali government established a task force called the Acceleration Team for Tourism Governance, comprised of personnel from the Bali Tourism Agency, the Police, Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Immigration, Prosecutors, and tourism associations.

Circular Regulations:

The circular, effective from late May 2023, introduces obligations and prohibitions to be adhered to by foreign tourists. It covers various aspects, including rules for places of worship, tourist sites, public areas, business, traffic, and behavior.

Retribution Rules from July 2023:

Governor Koster announced plans for a retribution fee for tourists entering Bali , expected to be implemented in 2024. While the exact amount was not finalized at the time of the announcement, it was tentatively set at Rp 150,000 per person. This fee, collected electronically, would be applicable to all entry points for tourists, whether by land, sea, or air. The funds collected would be utilized for the protection of culture, the environment, infrastructure, and tourism facilities in Bali.

Official Implementation in February 2024:

In September 2023, the government officially confirmed that the retribution fee of Rp 150,000 for foreign tourists in Bali would be enforced starting February 14, 2024. This decision was formalized in Regional Regulation No. 6 of 2023, Article 19, concerning Levies for Foreign Tourists for the Protection of Balinese Culture and the Environment. Concurrently, the Bali Provincial Government released guidelines for the payment of this retribution by tourists.

In conclusion, Bali’s proactive approach to address tourist-related challenges signals a commitment to responsible tourism. The success of these regulations will depend on how well they are communicated, enforced, and integrated into the broader vision of Bali as a cultural and environmentally conscious tourist destination. As travelers adapt to these changes, the coming years will reveal the effectiveness of these measures in shaping Bali’s tourism landscape.

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Latest Travel Regulations to Enter Bali as of 1 December 2022

You know what time it is? Yes, #ItstimeforBali! The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, imposed new regulations for those who are planning to travel to Bali. Since 14 October 2021, Bali has been gradually opening its doors to international tourists. On 3 February  2022, the inaugural commercial flight of Garuda Indonesia Airline carrying international tourists landed in Bali from Narita, Japan. By relaxing the travel restrictions to Bali, the Indonesian Government hopes that this move will be able to revitalize the country’s tourism.

On 7 March 2022, the government also applied a quarantine-free trial period and a Visa On Arrival (VOA) program for 23 selected countries. The list of countries was then extended to 42 on 22 March 2022, 43 countries on 6 April 2022, 60 countries on 28 April 2022,  72 countries on 30 May 2022, and then 75 countries on 27 July 2022. There are currently 86 countries listed based on the update on 23 September 2022.

On 10 November 2022, the government also launched an Electronic Visa on Arrive (eVOA) program to provide foreign travelers with an easier entry process. According to the Circular Letter of the Directorate General of Immigration No. IMI-0794.GR.01.01 of 2022 concerning the Immigration Policy regarding Electronic Visit Visa Services, Visit Visa on Arrival Services, and Free Visit Visa to Support Sustainable Tourism during the Covid-19 Pandemic, as of 1 December 2022, there are 86 countries eligible for the eVOA program.

Another great news to be noted is that from 18 May 2022, no RT-PCR test results are required to be taken prior to departure from the country or region of origin . 

In addition, the government has also launched Second Home Visa , Immigration on Shipping (IoS) , and recently, Electronic Visa on Arrival (eVOA) , which was effective from 10 November 2022. 

The Indonesian Government will ensure to keep their utmost efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, namely by maintaining the  status as one of countries with the highest vaccination rates, as well as the country that consistently provides safety protocols for all visitors. As of 18 May 2022, Bali is one of the top 3 provinces with highest vaccination rates and also one of the highest numbers of CHSE certifications. 

1. Pre-departure Preparation

Before departing to Bali, you need to prepare yourself with the information about the Visa and requirements to enter Indonesia.

Entering with Visa on Arrival and Visa Exemption Facility

According to the Circular Letter of the Directorate General of Immigration No. IMI-0708.GR.01.01 of 2022 concerning the Ease of Immigration to Support Sustainable Tourism during the COVID-19 Pandemic effective from 23 September 2022, there are 86 countries that are eligible for VIsa on Arrival (VOA) program. 

In addition, according to the  Circular Letter of the Directorate General of Immigration No. IMI-0708.GR.01.01 of 2022 concerning the Ease of Immigration to Support Sustainable Tourism during the COVID-19 Pandemic effective from 23 September 2022, the Indonesian government has also implemented a Visa Exemption Arrangement facility to 9 countries.

More details about the eligible countries, updated rules, regulations, and ports of entries for Visa On Arrival and Visa Exemption Facilities can be read on this link and can be summarized as follows:

• Passport (diplomatic/official/ordinary) that is valid for a minimum of 6 (six) months,
• A return ticket or a pass to continue the trip to another country, and
• Proof of payment of PNBP Visa on Arrival of 500,000 IDR (in the case of applying for a Visa on Arrival for Leisure Purpose)
• The entry stamp on the granting of a Visit Visa Exemption or Visa on Arrival for Leisure Purpose will be valid as a Visit Stay Permit with the certain period, as follows: a) Visit Visa Exemption: maximum 30 days and cannot be extended. b) Visa on Arrival: maximum of 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days at the Immigration Office in the area where the foreign national lives. 
• Visit Visa Exemption or Visa on Arrival for Leisure Purpose can also be granted for foreign nationals on official visit or government duties to attend international events, for which shall be applied additional requirement: to enclose an invitation letter issued by the Indonesian government to attend the international conferences/trials/meetings.
• The provision of Visit Visa Exemption or Visa on Arrival for Leisure Purpose as stipulated above applies to holders of diplomatic passports, service passports, or ordinary/general passports.

Entering with eVOA

You can visit this link to find out more information about eVOA, as well as this page to gather the details about eVOA registration .

2. Arrival protocols

When you have arrived in Bali, there are several measures you need to take before you can continue your trip. According to the Circular Letter of the COVID-19 Task Force Number 25 of 2022 concerning Health Protocols for International Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic, as of 31 August 2022, all international travelers, whether they are Indonesian citizens or foreign nationals, should comply with all the detailed regulations on this link .

The protocols can be summarized as follows:

1. All foreign travelers (foreign nationals) who will enter the territory of the Republic of Indonesia shall adjust their travel documents to ensure compliance with the provisions regarding the foreign travelers allowed to enter the territory of Indonesia, which includes Covid-19 vaccination certificates, recommended health protocols, along with the use of  PeduliLindungi  application while in Indonesia. Provisions for RT-PCR examination and quarantine period are not required except under certain conditions.

2. Foreign travelers must show a card/certificate (physical or digital) proving that you have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered at least 14 days before departure.

Foreign travelers who undergo post-COVID recovery are allowed to continue the journey by attaching a doctor's certificate from the Government Hospital of the country of departure or the ministry that carries out government affairs in the health sector in the country of departure stating that the person concerned is no longer actively transmitting COVID-19 or the COVID-19 recovery certificate;

Foreign travelers with special health conditions or comorbidities that cause travelers to have not and/or unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, are allowed to continue the journey by attaching a doctor's certificate from the Government Hospital from the country of departure, stating that the person concerned has not and/or is unable to take part in the COVID-19 vaccination.

3. Upon arrival at the entry points, foreign travelers must undergo a COVID-19 symptom check, including a body temperature check, with the following conditions :

If there is no symptom of COVID-19 and body temperature is below 37.5 degrees Celsius:  no need to undergo RT-PCR examination upon arrival

If there is any symptom of COVID-19 or body temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius:  must undergo RT-PCR examination upon arrival. 

4. As a requirement for domestic travel or departure abroad from Indonesia, international travelers with the status of Indonesian citizens aged 18 years and above must present a card/certificate (physical or digital) of receiving the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine displayed through the PeduliLindungi application. You can check out this link to find out about the detailed regulations for domestic travel.

5. The provision regarding the period of isolation (quarantine) no longer applies. All foreign travelers without symptoms related to COVID-19 and whose body temperature is below 37.5 degrees Celsius are able to continue their journey. However, it is highly recommended to monitor their health independently.

6. Health protocols must meet these requirements:

Wearing 3 ply of fabric mask or medical grade mask, covering nose, mouth, and chin at indoor settings or any crowded situations;

Replacing the mask regularly within every 4 hours, and dispose the waste in the proper place;

Washing hands regularly with water and soap or hand sanitizers;

Maintaining social distance for a minimum of 1.5 meters and avoiding crowds; and

Keeping in mind that it is advised not to have one-way or two-way communication by telephone or in person throughout the trip using public transportation modes of land, rail, sea, river, lake, ferry, and air.

7. The above policies are temporary and will be readjusted according to global health developments.

Please make sure that you are tested by  the affiliated laboratories  so that the results will be directly connected to the PeduliLindungi app.

Furthermore, you can  visit here  to get a one stop service for your travel requirements in Bali. Kindly  click here  to browse all the accommodations and tourism destinations in Bali that have been granted the CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability) certification. Beside booking at your favorite accommodation among the listed hotels, villas, and resorts, come check out these  Live on Board  providers for new exciting experiences.

Remember to always comply with all the health protocols while enjoying the best of Bali again. Do keep yourself updated with the latest information about traveling regulations in Bali by checking out  this page .

Come follow our Instagram  @wonderfulindonesia , Facebook  @WonderfulIndonesia , Twitter  @wonderfulid , TikTok  @wonderfulid , and our Youtube  Wonderful Indonesia  to keep an eye out on the latest news about Indonesia’s tourism as well as awe-inspiring trip ideas.

*Disclaimer: This article was updated on January 16, 2023. Due to the dynamic nature of travel regulations, please stay updated and confirm your itinerary with your chosen travel providers.

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Bali tourists to receive 'dos and don'ts' card on arrival as part of crackdown on unruly behaviour

Authorities in Bali will distribute a list of "dos and don'ts" for visitors arriving at the tourist island and are warning they will cancel visas amid a wave of disrespectful tourists.

Key points:

• Bali has seen a string of incidents involving foreign tourists misbehaving, with more than 130 deportations so far this year
• Authorities have will distribute a list of 12 "dos" and eight "don'ts" for international tourists
• The rules will be printed out and given to all arrivals at the airport from June

The move comes in response to a string of incidents involving foreigners behaving inappropriately or breaching visa conditions, with more than 130 deportations in the first five months of this year.

In a circular issued for government departments on the Indonesian island, Governor Wayan Koster signed off on 12 "dos" and eight "don'ts" for international tourists, one week after a video of a naked German woman disrupting a traditional dance performance at a temple went viral.

She was placed in a mental health facility by local authorities, but nudity at holy sites has been a recurring theme, with two Russian bloggers deported in recent months, one for posing nude on a sacred tree and the other for dropping his pants at a volcano regarded as holy by Hindu Balinese.

Now for the first time, climbing holy trees or posing naked at cultural or religious sites is being clearly spelled out as prohibited under guidelines that apply across the whole island.

The governor says the rules aim to restore "quality and dignity" to Bali's tourism sector, which is still recovering after shutting down completely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entering certain holy sites for reasons other than praying, behaving disrespectfully at temples and going nude or wearing immodest clothing all make the "don't" list for tourists.

As does acting aggressively or using offensive language towards police and other government workers, partly in response to a viral video of an Australian woman in March who yelled at several policemen who stopped her for riding a scooter without a helmet.

The "dos" list largely follows a similar theme but urges foreigners not to use cryptocurrencies for transactions while in Indonesia, or to flout visa conditions by illegally running businesses.

Tourists are being told to rent scooters and seek tour guide services from licensed operators.

"Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, a lot of people wanting to avoid conscription have come to Asia including Bali and they're not really tourists," Rai Suryawijaya, the deputy chair of the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association, told the ABC.

"They don't have much money, so after a few days or a month they're out of money and they're doing some illegal activities, so the government is quite worried about that."

While the guidelines fit largely in line with existing laws and cultural norms in Bali, their promotion is seen as an order to step up enforcement by various agencies on the island.

A senior Bali provincial official in charge of immigration said the rules would be printed out and given to all arrivals at the airport starting in June.

Bali's borders were closed to international tourists for about two years due to the pandemic, and more than a year after the reopening, the island is yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic numbers.

Government figures show about 13,000 to 15,000 tourists a day are arriving, down from the peak of 18,000 before COVID-19.

"The economy is getting better and better, but it's not normal yet, so we still have to work hard to improve it," Mr Suryawijaya said.

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Bali’s New Rules for Foreign Tourists

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has issued Circular Letter Number 4 of 2023, outlining new regulations for international tourists visiting Bali.

Rules in places of worship:.

Rules in tourist attractions and public places:

Rules in the business sector:, also read  how to get deported from bali, traffic rules:, apply here for your international drivers permit online – accepted in bali and indonesia (and beyond).

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Badly behaved in Bali: Here are the new rules for Australian tourists on appropriate behaviour

A balinese religious leader is calling on foreign visitors to show more respect for local customs after a string of incidents prompted authorities to issue “how to behave” guidelines..

The Bali Tourism Office recorded foreign tourist visits to Bali in the first quarter of 2023 reaching 1.4 million people. Source: AAP / Made Nagi

• Bali has introduced new 'how to behave' guidelines, which will be issued to tourists upon arrival.
• Visitors are urged to dress appropriately, behave at religious sites, and respect local customs and culture.
• The new measures follow a string of incidents among travellers visiting the Indonesian island.

What are the new rules for tourists in Bali?

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Australians visiting Bali will need to be wary of Indonesia's extramarital sex ban. Here's why

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No swearing, touching of sacred trees or climbing structures: Bali's official 'dos and don'ts card' for tourists

• Respect the sanctity of temples, pratimas (sacred statues), and religious symbols
• Wholeheartedly respect the customs, traditions, arts, culture, and local wisdom of the Balinese people during ongoing ceremonial processions and rituals
• Dress modestly, appropriately, and respectfully when visiting sacred areas, tourist attractions, public places, and engaging in activities in Bali
• Behave politely in sacred areas, tourist areas, restaurants, shopping areas, roads, and other public places
• Be accompanied by licensed tour guides (who understand the natural conditions, customs, traditions, and local wisdom of the Balinese people) when visiting tourist attractions
• Exchange foreign currency at authorised money changers (both banks and non-banks) that are officially licensed and display the authorisation number and QR code logo from Bank Indonesia
• Make payments using the Indonesian Standard QR Code (QRIS)
• Conduct transactions using the Indonesian rupiah
• Comply with the applicable traffic laws in Indonesia, including possessing a valid international or national driving license, obey traffic rules, dress modestly, wear a helmet, follow traffic signs, not exceed passenger capacity, and no driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
• Use four-wheeled transportation that is roadworthy and officially registered or two-wheeled transportation that is operated by a legal business entity or association for two-wheeler rentals
• Stay in accommodations that possess the required permits according to applicable regulations
• Adhere to all specific provisions/rules that apply to each tourist attraction and tourist activity.

Don'ts

• Trespass sacred territories: Steer clear of utamaning mandala and madyaning mandala, holy and sanctified spots like puras and pelinggihs — unless you're there for a Balinese traditional ceremony, during which you must wear the appropriate attire, and you're not menstruating
• Touch sacred trees
• Engage in behavior that defiles sacred places, temples, idols, and religious symbols, such as climbing sacred structures and taking indecent or nude photos
• Litter and pollute lakes, springs, rivers, seas, and public areas
• Use single-use plastics like plastic bags, polystyrene (Styrofoam), and plastic straws
• Utter offensive words, behave disrespectfully, cause disturbances, and act aggressively towards government authorities, local communities, and fellow tourists, both directly and indirectly through social media, including spreading hate speech and hoaxes
• Engage in work or business activities without proper documentation issued by the relevant authorities
• Get involved in illegal activities, such as trading illegal goods, including endangered flora and fauna, cultural artifacts, and sacred objects, as well as illegal drugs.

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What you need to know about Bali's new tourist rules

From a ban on climbing volcanos to new guidelines around renting motorbikes and accommodation, Bali has announced a new set of dos and don’ts for tourists. 

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Expert calls for massive change to Bali

Why Aussies being turned away from Bali

Bali makes huge move for tourists

For a start, don't be nuding up.

Last week, a video circulated on social media that enraged the local and expat community in Bali. In front of shocked onlookers, a young, naked female tourist ascended the stairs of a temple during a Balinese cultural dance and forcibly pushed through a carved door. After being confronted by a Balinese man in ceremonial dress, she paraded back down the stairs, arms held out to her sides in victory with a smug expression on her face, before kneeling at a statue in ‘prayer’.

Regardless of whether it was desperate attempt at notoriety or mental illness, it was one of the most sickening displays of cultural disrespect I have ever seen. It is a stain on visitors in Bali and I felt deeply embarrassed for the locals that were there to witness her total disregard for their culture and the loss of dignity they must have endured in that moment. It’s this growing sense of entitlement, the latest in a string of incidents in Bali, that is driving a broader discussion around the future of tourism on the island.

After a spate of events involving tourists from Australia, Russia, the UK, US and Europe, it's clear that Bali wants to clean up its image. Or should I say, that of its guests. From making a mockery of sacred sites to drunken behaviour and disregard for road safety, authorities in Bali have had enough and are putting their foot down. Last week, Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster announced a comprehensive list of guidelines for tourists to follow in Bali, which are to be printed on a card for easy reference and handed out to passengers arriving at Denpasar international airport.

The 12 ‘dos’ and eight ‘don’ts’ have been designed to educate travellers as well as help them avoid prosecution and penalties while in Bali. Many of the guidelines are not actually new and reiterate laws that are already a part of Indonesia’s constitution, such as complying with traffic laws, holding a valid license or adhering to lawful behaviour in sacred sites and towards authorities and the government.

Alongside these basic measures, Governor Koster has issued a landmark ban on climbing all 22 mountains and volcanos in Bali with immediate effect. Mountains are considered the most sacred places in Balinese culture and after a series of deaths and incidents involving influencers stripping naked on social media, tourists will no longer be allowed to climb them. This new law also applies to locals and tour guides ascending Mt Batur and Mt Agung, which have been part of the island’s tourism offering for decades. Part of a wider plan to embrace sustainability, it’s a move in the right direction, but will likely leave many locals unemployed.

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The new tourism policy also states that travellers should refrain from using single-use plastics and littering, can only hire scooters or motorbikes from a licensed operator or stay in accommodation with the required permits. It’s not clear how these will be implemented and if the past is any indication, authorities may have bitten off more than they can chew. However, what Bali needs to do now is put their money where their mouth is. The only way to tackle disorderly, disrespectful conduct is to take a zero-tolerance approach and show tourists that bad behaviour has real repercussions, such as deportation. In the last few days, Governor Koster has also announced an urgent review on the visa on arrival.

There’s a worrying attitude that has been growing among tourists to Bali, a sense of entitlement and recklessness that is impacting the local community and giving those of us who love and respect the island a bad name. It's hard to put a finger on why tourists behave this way when they arrive to the Island of the Gods. What is it about Bali that makes people think they can do what they like? India and Japan both have numerous spiritual and cultural sites, but you don’t hear about foreigners humiliating their culture or desecrating temples.

Bali has attracted a younger, more free-thinking demographic of traveller in recent years, as well as influencers whose lives play out on social media. They’ll go to any length for more likes. Perhaps Bali needs to put its foot down on this type of activity, stop promoting the island and its venues as props for social media and start focusing on authentic experiences that appeal to the thoughtful, more considered tourist. Kindness is in the bones of the Balinese. But It’s time for some tough love. 

An expert has made a drastic request for foreign visitors – including Australians – who want to holiday in Bali.

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Nudity, sex, and disrespect: Bali looks to rein in bad tourist behavior

Outrageous tourist antics have prompted the provincial government to enact new laws for several sacred sites.

Regular obscene acts by tourists in Bali have prompted the proposal of new rules for visitors, including a ban on climbing its mountains, which are considered sacred and home to Hindu deities. Bali governor Wayan Koster recently sent local officials more than a dozen rules designed to address years of tourist misbehavior on this Indonesian island.

Under his plan, tourists arriving in Bali would receive a document advising them to dress modestly in temples and to avoid touching holy trees, swearing in public, scaling religious buildings, or interrupting Balinese ceremonies. Perhaps the most impactful proposal, however, would be a ban on mountain hiking. This popular tourist activity is promoted by many Balinese companies, which lead tours of majestic peaks and volcanoes.

The governor’s proposal came soon after a German woman walked naked into a Bali temple and a Russian woman posed nude on a sacred banyan tree. In March, meanwhile, a Russian blogger who bared his backside on a volcano became one of reportedly more than a hundred people deported from Bali this year alone.

( Should some of the world’s endangered places be off limits to tourists? )

Although Bali is one of Asia ’s most touristed locations, brimming with resorts, bars, and activities aimed at foreigners, it’s also an island deeply rooted in ancient religious beliefs. Bali is cloaked in sites considered sacred in its Hindu-majority culture.

“In Hinduism the mountains are where the gods live, in particular the Himalayas are associated with specific deities,” says Adrian Vickers , professor of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Sydney. “So the high mountains and volcanoes of Bali, Java, and Lombok are regarded as versions of those mountains from India . Added to this is the association [in Bali] of high places with ancestors.”

Many tourists don’t understand how deeply they can impact Bali with their actions, says I Nengah Subadra , associate professor of tourism at Bali’s University of Triatma Mulya. Dressing too casually, talking too loudly, or touching someone too intimately at sacred sites disrupts the island’s delicate spiritual balance.

( These are some of Europe’s most sacred sites .)

Such behavior doesn’t just offend locals, it also unsettles Bali’s Hindu gods, he says. To appease these deities, and restore cosmic harmony, Balinese people perform ancient rituals at these disturbed locations, cleansing them of negative energy.

I Nengah Subadra says frustration over tourist misbehavior has been growing in Bali for more than a decade, citing a 2013 incident in which an Estonian couple had sex in a temple. But he says the planned tourist rules will receive a mixed reception from locals. “Some Balinese people who are very pro-cultural preservation, they will be happy,” he says. “But those who work in tourism may be unhappy because it will impact businesses who do hiking tours to mountains.”

Kadek Krishna Adidharma is one such person. Director of Bali Eco Trekking , which has led mountain tours for 24 years, he says Bali’s governor has no right to ban tourists from visiting its peaks. “Whether a mountain or volcano is open to tourism is a matter for local, not provincial, authority,” he says.

“We have not seen any changes on the ground since the arbitrary rule set by the governor. With 2024 being an election year, some also see this as an attempt by the governor to flex and demonstrate his power to do something about inappropriate behavior by some tourists.”

( Go beyond Everest, with these 9 epic peaks to conquer in a lifetime .)

Although it’s not yet clear when Bali’s proposed tourist rules will be enforced, travelers can show respect when visiting mountains and temples by dressing conservatively and heeding local customs.

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How will Indonesia’s strict new sex laws affect tourists in Bali?

New ultra-conservative legislation was passed on tuesday, article bookmarked.

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Indonesia, a favourite holiday destination for beach-seekers, spiritual types, divers and surfers, has passed dramatic new legislation that will ban sex and cohabitation outside of marriage.

The country, made up of more than 17,000 islands between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, is popular for visits to islands such as Bali - generally thought of as a liberal, tourist-welcoming destination - as well as diving hotspot Raja Ampat, and Komodo, home to the “Komodo dragon” lizard.

However, the Republic of Indonesia’s new criminal code, passed on 6 December, will make sex outside of marriage punishable by up to one year in jail.

It will also ban couples living together outside of marriage, and prohibit insulting the president or expressing ideas contrary to government policy.

When the legislation was first drafted in 2019, it provoked nationwide outrage and resulted in protests. However, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country has gradually become more conservative and rejected the former policies of colonisers such as the Netherlands.

Deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, told Reuters last week: “We’re proud to have a criminal code that’s in line with Indonesian values.”

So what does this mean for a future holiday to Indonesia’s beautiful islands?

Here’s everything you need to know about the changes to the country’s laws.

When do the new laws come into effect?

The new criminal code will not be enforced for three years - in late 2025 - authorities have reported. This is to allow for legislation to be implemented across the widely scattered nation.

This means it is unlikely that holidays booked for the next year or two will be affected, and travellers should experience Indonesia as they have in previous years.

A specific 2025 date and month has yet to be announced for the criminal code to be officially in place. The Independent has contacted Indonesia tourism representatives for comment.

Does the code apply to locals only, or tourists too?

The code appears to apply only to residents, with only family members able to “report” violations to authorities.

On Monday (12 December) Balinese officials clarified that tourists and foreign residents will not have their marital status or relationship checked when booking or staying in Bali’s hotels.

“Based on the provisions of the new Indonesian criminal code, visitors who visit or live in Bali would not need to worry,” said Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster.

There will be “no checks on marital statuses at tourist accommodations like hotels, villas, guest houses or spas, or inspections by public officials or community groups,” he clarified in a statement.

“Bali is business as usual - comfortable and safe to visit,” added the governor.

Meanwhile, government spokesperson Albert Aries said: “We look forward to welcoming visitors with our Balinese hospitality and advise all parties not to deliver misleading statements regarding the Indonesian criminal code that might disrupt Bali tourism.”

The Independent ’s travel correspondent, Simon Calder, says: “A very similar law is in effect in the United Arab Emirates. The Foreign Office says: ‘In the case of an extra-marital consensual sexual relationship, if either person’s spouse or parent/guardian files a criminal complaint, then both parties of an extra-marital consensual relationship shall be liable to a jail sentence for a period not less than six months.’

“I am unaware of any Western tourists (as opposed to expatriates living in the UAE) ever having been penalised in this way, and I am sure that the same will prevail in Indonesia once the code comes into effect.”

What are the most worrying aspects of the code?

The key clauses focused on by human rights activists are those prohibiting sex and cohabitation outside of marriage.

If enforced, this could mean that unmarried couples would be breaking the law by visiting together and sharing accommodation. However, drafts of the new legislation seen by campaigners include wording around family members or close acquaintances of people in the islands being the only ones who can “report” illegal behaviour, so it would be down to hotel policies on the subject. These are as yet unclear.

Just as concerning are laws making it illegal to protest without “notifying” authorities, bans against insulting the president and prohibition of apostasy or criticizing the government. This has raised concerns about the future of press freedom in the country.

Jail time may also be imposed for anyone disseminating information about contraception and birth control. Four-year sentences are a possibility for any woman who has an abortion in the country, with longer jail terms for those who perform one.

Some areas of Indonesia have already adopted strict local Sharia laws - the province of Aceh, for example, enforces an Islamic criminal code that extends to flogging residents for homosexual acts, and caning or imprisonment for gambling or drinking alcohol. Certain wording in the legislation has raised fears regions will be able to impose their own strict criminal codes in this manner.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but campaigners say the new extra-marital laws threaten them by stealth, as lesbian and gay people cannot legally marry. Adultery is already illegal in Indonesia.

What are tour operators advising about future holidays?

No operators have announced changes to their pre-booked Indonesia or Bali holidays and tours. Many emphasise that tourists are unlikely to be affected, though they may have their own concerns about travelling to countries with well publicised human rights issues.

A spokesperson for tour operator Kuoni told The Independent : “News about a controversial new code has caught media attention and may be a concern to anyone planning a holiday. As it stands the new code is a draft and is not due to come into effect until 2025, so there is no immediate change for anyone due to travel in the near future.

“Our ground agent in Bali has assured us that our valued guests should not be worried about travelling and they will be welcomed as they always are. From our perspective, we have a responsibility to advise customers about local laws, so it’s important that we monitor the development of this proposal and understand how it will be enforced so we are able to interpret this and give the right advice to our customers.

“Almost all of Kuoni’s bookings for Indonesia are to Bali, which ranks in the top five destinations for honeymoons. Whilst Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim faith country, Bali is the exception, with 87 per cent of people identify as Hindu. We’ll continue to work with our destination partners to understand more about the situation as it develops, but right now it is a draft and there is no need for existing customers, or anyone considering a holiday to Bali, to be concerned.”

What have critics said about the law changes?

Human rights watchdogs and LGBTQ+ activists have raised fears about the new legislation, which was first floated in 2019 and sparked nationwide protests. Gay rights activists say the extra-marital laws amount to a ban on same-sex relations, since lesbian and gay Indonesians cannot legally marry.

As well as new limits on sex and cohabitation for unmarried people, it bans insulting or speaking contrary to the Indonesian government, and makes protest illegal without protestors adequately “notifying” authorities beforehand.

Maulana Yusran, deputy chief of Indonesia’s tourist board, said the new code was “totally counter-productive” at a time when the tourism scene is still bouncing back from the pandemic.

“We deeply regret that government have closed their eyes. We have already expressed our concern to the ministry of tourism about how harmful this law is,” he told Reuters .

“What we’re witnessing is a huge setback to Indonesia’s hard-won progress in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms after the 1998 revolution,” said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.

“This criminal code should have never been passed in the first place.”

He added that “no meaningful changes” had been made since the code’s original draft in 2019, which sparked widespread protests.

However, Dr Albert Aries, spokesman for the socialization team of the new criminal code, told The Independent there was “nothing to worry about”, and that tourists and foreign business people would continue to feel “comfortable in Indonesia”.

He said: “The article on adultery in the new Criminal Code that will take effect three years later is the Absolute Complaint Offense. This means that only the husband or wife (for those who are married) or parents or children (for those who are not married) can make complaints [about extramarital sex and cohabitation].

“Other parties cannot report it... so there will be no legal process without complaints from the rightful party, who is directly harmed.

“So there’s really nothing to worry about. If all this time tourists and investors can be comfortable in Indonesia, then this condition will not change either.”

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It’s one of the biggest international destinations for Aussie travellers, with 2024 well on its way to being the busiest years for Bali on record.

But with the surge of travellers and the influx of ‘digital nomads’ looking to push visitation into the Indonesian island above 14 million, one tourism expert is calling for a change that would see Aussie bank accounts essentially laid bare.

According to The Bali Sun , tourism academic at the National Education University in Denpasar, Dr Ida Bagus Raka Suardana, has raised concerns about the type of tourist has been entering Bali – and if the island should be a little more selective with who travels on and off the island.

“Even though there are lots of people coming to Bali, many foreign tourists have changed places to stay,” he said, highlighting the trend of private often “illegal” villa stays rather than hotel stays,” Dr Suardana said.

“There are still many foreign tourists who come to Bali who need money and are not the ones who bring money. There’s no point in tourists coming here to Bali, just eating rice and staying in cheap places.”

Dr Suardana said he had observed a growing number of tourists coming into Bali and essentially staying on a budget, which he argued brought no value to the island — which relies so heavily on tourist spend.

In 2023, Indonesia’s Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies Sandiaga Uno revealed that the average spend of foreign tourists to Bali is AU$2300 per person per stay. Of the visitation, according to the Bali Province Centra Statistics Agency, with the most frequent arrivals from Australia, According to the data, around 131,000 arrivals in June alone were from Down Under.

However the highest spending tourists come from Europe, with the average Austrian tourist spending IDR 69.4 million during their trip to Bali, which is equivalent to AU6,565. Visitors from Switzerland were shortly behind, with an average spend of around AU$6375.

But while some visitation amounts to thousands in holiday spend, Dr Suardana argues that policies need to be introduced to ensure visitors have plenty of cash to splash around the island for the entirety of their stay – and even if they choose to extend.

His suggestion, as reported by The Bali Sun, would essentially reveal intimate details of a visitors’ bank account. It would see foreigners who wished to visit Bali to lay bare what is in their savings balance before they are granted permission to enter.

Given an expanding number of visitors opting for private villas rather than hotel stays, there is growing missions to drive more ‘high-quality tourism’ on the island. As such, these types of tourists would typically spend more on activities and cultural experiences.

More Coverage

Last year, at the Future Of Bali Development summit, which focused on 100 Years of Bali from 2025-2125, the Bali Governor Koster suggested the island needed to change tact when it comes to tourism.

“Tourism control [is needed] so that tourism is not cheap, mass tourism, as we have seen in recent cases,” he suggested, highlighting the need for a ‘quota’ to be put in place,” Governor Koster said.

“[the quota] is limited to seven million foreign tourists, for example, per year, with certain criteria, so it’s tightened. For example … a minimum [amount] of money to carry in savings. “Don’t let [tourists] only bring IDR 10 million enough for a week and suddenly stay in Bali for a month.”

A remote paradise in the Pacific Ocean is one of the most isolated places in the world with population of just 38 residents and a very dark past.

When tourists think of Australia, the two cities that often come to mind are Sydney and Melbourne, but now there are two new favourites.

A tourist has taken to social media to question an “out of place” charge he noticed on a restaurant receipt while on holiday in Spain.

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Much-loved attraction near famous Portugal beach introduces new tourist rules

• Maleeha Katib
• Published : 18:06 ET, Aug 13 2024
• Updated : 21:09 ET, Aug 13 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

A POPULAR hot spot near a famous beach in Portugal has introduced new rules for tourists.

One of Portugal 's most Insta-famous spots, the stunning Benagil Caves, has just slapped down a strict new set of rules – and tourists better take note if they want to avoid a hefty fine.

From today, the picturesque Benagil Caves in the Algarve are off-limits for swimming and sunbathing inside.

Tough new regulations aim to protect the area's natural beauty and prevent overcrowding.

The caves, known for their jaw-dropping skylight that opens up to the heavens, have long been a hotspot for holidaymakers.

But now, even thinking about paddling over without a guide or dropping anchor in the sandy cove could see you in hot water – literally and financially.

Brit man found dead near family holiday home in Portugal days after police search

In a bid to keep the area safe and sustainable, the new rules – officially rolled out on July 30 – ban private and commercial vessels from disembarking inside the caves.

Swimming and using floaties to reach the caves are also now totally forbidden.

And if you're planning to kayak, you’d better book a tour – hiring a kayak without a guide is no longer allowed.

The new guidelines also limit the number of boats and kayaks allowed inside the caves at any one time.

Most read in Travel

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Kayak tours must now stick to a strict ratio of one guide for every six visitors, ensuring a more controlled experience.

Boat operators flouting the rules could be hit with fines up to a staggering £184,600 (€216,000).

This isn't just a simple slap on the wrist.

The Benagil Caves Working Group, set up last August, means business – and they're not messing around when it comes to protecting this natural wonder.

But it’s not just the Benagil Caves that are feeling the pinch of new rules.

Portugal’s getting serious about its booming tourist industry – and it’s not all sunshine and selfies.

Last year, the Portuguese government laid down the law with a fresh batch of measures to tackle the country's housing crisis.

One of the most controversial moves was the ban on new licenses for Airbnbs and other short-term holiday rentals.

With rents soaring by 37 per cent and wages lagging far behind, locals have been priced out of their own homes.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa warned that the crisis was hitting every family, not just the most vulnerable, and something had to give.

The government’s housing package sparked fierce debate – and it’s clear the country's relationship with tourism is shifting.

And for those hoping to snap up a Golden Visa, Portugal’s set to pull the plug on the programme that offers EU passports to non-EU nationals.

Critics have slammed the scheme, saying it’s only driven up property prices even more.

So, If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, keep your ear to the ground and follow the rules – or risk having your dream holiday turn into a costly nightmare.

The sun, sea, and sand may be waiting, but from the caves of Benagil to the bustling streets of Lisbon, things are changing fast.

It's not just Portugal introducing controversial travel rules.

A travel shake-up is on the horizon for Brits heading to Europe next year, with new rules set to make your holiday plans a bit more complicated.

Brits face a travel warning as new Europe entry rules are set to be introduced next year.

Read More on The US Sun

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Meanwhile, this popular tourist destination is also planning to increase its daily tourist charge.

And this  UK seaside town  became the first to tax tourists this year.

The world's 50 best beaches

The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches.

• Lucky Bay, Australia
• Source D'Argent, Seychelles
• Hidden, Philippines
• Whitehaven, Australia
• One Foot, Cook Islands
• Trunk, US Virgin Islands
• Honopu, Hawaii
• Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
• Navagio Beach, Greece
• Balandra, Mexico
• Cala Goloritze, Italy
• Pipe Creek, Bahamas
• Pink, Indonesia
• Grace, Turks & Caicos
• Gardner, Ecuador
• Mcway, California
• Turquoise, Australia
• Le Morne, Mauritius
• Sancho, Brazil
• Seven Mile, Cayman Islands
• Lanikai, Hawaii
• Maya, Thailand
• Moro, Spain
• Kelingking, Indonesia
• Meads, Anguilla
• Flamenco, Puerto Rico
• Arena, Dominican Republic
• Little Hellfire, Australia
• Lazio, Seychelles
• Vaeroy, Norway
• Horseshoe, Bermuda
• Myrtos, Greece
• Hidden, Mexico
• Grand Anse, Grenada
• Xpu Ha, Mexico
• San Josef, Canada
• Matira, French Polynesia
• Capriccioli, Italy
• Pasjaca, Croatia
• Boulders, South Africa
• Salines, Martinique
• Champagne, Vanuatu
• Marinha, Portugal
• Balos, Greece
• Achmelvich, Scotland
• Kaputas, Turkey
• Radhangar, India
• Varadero, Cuba
• Piha, New Zealand
• Pink Sand, Bahamas 
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Street Wars

This N.Y.C. Tourist Hub Has Become Trash-Strewn Chaos for Everyone

Eighth Avenue in Manhattan connects Broadway’s theaters to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. But it is also crowded, dirty and sometimes dangerous.

By Liam Stack

This is Street Wars , a weekly series on the battle for space on New York’s streets and sidewalks.

Eighth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is many things.

It is the first street to greet many travelers as they arrive at Pennsylvania Station or the Port Authority Bus Terminal. It is the temporary address for thousands of hotel dwellers. It is the backdrop to any night spent at a Broadway show or Madison Square Garden, or just out on the town.

Eighth Avenue can also be unsettling.

At the best of times, it is the Champs-Élysées of hot dog carts: a grand thoroughfare of vendors, tourists and commuters whose bustle brings the city to life.

Motorists share it with bicycles, pedicabs and the occasional horse-drawn carriage. Pedestrians crowd the sidewalk and overflow into an ad hoc expansion of it, created in 2016 when the city began to cordon off a lane of traffic and paint it gray.

But at the worst of times, Eighth Avenue is a Dickensian parade of humanity.

It is strewn with garbage and pockmarked by potholes and pools of unidentifiable fluid. People suffering from addiction and mental illness roam the street. Bicyclists race down the expanded sidewalks, endangering pedestrians. Tourists plod slowly through the sea of walkers, sometimes abruptly dropping anchor in the middle of the sidewalk.

Eighth Avenue’s problems have preoccupied city officials in recent weeks, in part owing to the advocacy of the Broadway theater community, whose investors and heavyweights fear that the anarchic vibe will start to keep theatergoers away.

“There is a lawless element to it,” Jeff T. Daniels, the chief strategy officer of the Shubert Organization, the largest theater owner on Broadway, said on a walk through the neighborhood last week. An empty drug vial lay on the sidewalk near his feet, half a block from the theater where “Hamilton” is performed.

“People use the standard where they’re like, ‘Well, it’s not as bad as it was in the ’70s,’” he added. “But that is the wrong stick to measure with.”

Asked how they would describe Eighth Avenue, two more theater executives, James L. Nederlander, the president of the Nederlander Organization, and Jason Laks, the interim president of the Broadway League, both landed on the same word: “chaotic.”

“Our audience walks to the theater, they drive, and the question for us is how to make it safe for them,” Mr. Laks said. He said the league was also concerned about the “thousands of people who live in this neighborhood” and are employed by Broadway theaters.

“This is what they have to go through every day just getting to work,” Mr. Laks said.

Last month, Erik Bottcher, who represents Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea and Greenwich Village on the City Council, sent an anguished letter to Mayor Eric Adams decrying what he called “the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the streets and subways of New York City.”

The letter focused on Eighth Avenue in Chelsea and Midtown, as well as an area near Washington Square Park, where, Mr. Bottcher wrote, “significant numbers of individuals are engaging in a range of illegal and antisocial activities that are causing distress and fear.”

A look at the police blotter reveals a steady drumbeat of robberies, assaults, stabbings, attempted suicides, and various forms of disorderly conduct up and down the avenue.

Indeed, Mr. Bottcher wrote that the police department has received “a large volume of calls regarding open narcotics sale and narcotics use, property destruction, physical and verbal intimidation, shoplifting and other illegal activity.”

That is because, amid all the hustle and bustle, Eighth Avenue is also home to deeper problems. Like many public spaces in New York, the street is a gathering point for a broad population of people struggling to get by.

Some are recent migrants who wait on the sidewalk for short-term work, sell snacks or beg for change, holding up signs describing their arduous journey north. Often, their children sit beside them, playing games and taking in the view of the city they worked so hard to reach.

Others stumble down the street or rant and rave into thin air, locked in addiction or active psychosis, frightening passers-by and occasionally being taken away by police officers or paramedics. The worst-off lie unconscious on the asphalt, ignored by the people who pass by.

These days, Eighth Avenue belongs to them just as much as it does to the tourists, the commuters and the theater owners. Maybe more so.

The street has been stuck in a sort of limbo as other areas of Midtown have gentrified and Disneyfied. It is nowhere near as rough as it was in the 1980s, but it is not free of the disorder that ruled those years.

Mr. Bottcher, whose smiling face often appears on electronic billboards up and down Eighth Avenue, asked the mayor to support legislation that would require social workers to be stationed at police precincts to connect people to mental health and other resources.

That would be an improvement over the city’s current approach, he said. Now, the city arrests people “sometimes dozens of times for low-level crimes with minimal progress made toward addressing those underlying issues” of mental health or addiction, he said.

Mr. Adams has not publicly responded to Mr. Bottcher’s letter, but last month he expressed his own concerns over the state of Eighth Avenue after a walking tour organized by Broadway theater owners.

Mr. Laks, Mr. Nederlander and Mr. Daniels said they accompanied the mayor on that walk and emphasized to him their concern over traffic. They blamed the congestion on what they called the “choke point” created by a bike lane, an expanded sidewalk, and the sheer number of vehicles that service the city’s primary tourism district.

Speaking to reporters last month, the mayor echoed those concerns. He said he was “a little concerned about the narrowing of Eighth Avenue,” which was slimmed down from four lanes to two when the sidewalk was expanded.

Mr. Adams supported the sidewalk expansion in the past but last month said the city would “need to re-look at what we’re doing over there.”

“We’re dealing with traffic congestion there, we’re dealing with uncleanliness that’s in the area, we’re dealing with the overuse of mopeds and bikes that are everywhere and parked in disarray, we’re dealing with the proper movement of people,” he said. “Now we’re sitting down and we’re putting in place the strategy to correct each one of those issues.”

It is not clear what that strategy might include, but a solution to Eighth Avenue’s problems seems very far away. And everyone who has a stake in its condition — from elected officials, to local businesses and residents, to Broadway bigwigs — has tried to keep expectations modest.

Ken Sunshine, a celebrity publicist (his clients have included Barbra Streisand and Ben Affleck) who works with the Broadway League, said he knew that Eighth Avenue was “never going to be pristine.”

“It’s always going to be funky, and it’s always going to be a little weird, and that’s good, that’s what New York is,” he said. “But we can do better than this.”

Enjoying our Street Wars series? Tell us what you like or how we could improve: [email protected]

A glimpse of 17th-century New York

By Lola Fadulu

If Eighth Avenue in Manhattan is the city’s most extreme example of 21st-century street mayhem, Stone Street is the opposite — a glimpse back in New York history, when even the idea of paved streets was something new.

In 1658, Stone Street in Lower Manhattan became the first paved street in New York City, after residents pooled their money to pay for it. In 1693, it became home to the city’s first printing press .

The cobblestone street became a thriving commercial area in the early 1800s, but many buildings there were damaged or destroyed in the Great Fire of New York in 1835. Today’s Stone Street buildings were built in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s. The street almost closed in the late 1960s in order to build a 38-story skyscraper, but those plans fell through. It was designated as a historical landmark in 1996.

Now, Stone Street is pedestrian only, filled with restaurants and a top destination for tourists.

On a recent afternoon, people had lunch at tables set up in the middle of the street. Tourists strolled by, stopping to take photos of the buildings or to glance at their New York City travel guidebooks. One group listened as a tour guide shared the street’s history with them.

Nearby, Francesca Hembury, 26, stood reading Elena Ferrante’s “My Brilliant Friend” during her lunch break. Her office looks out onto Stone Street.

“I think the pedestrian foot traffic is always nice to see,” said Ms. Hembury, who lives on the Upper East Side. “I know people in my office enjoy seeing people back here and people coming and going, and I do too.”

When she’s not reading during breaks from work, she’s frequenting the restaurants or people-watching.

“It’s nice to get glimpses of what people are saying,” she said. “So many different languages are spoken that I get to hear every day, some that I could never even guess what they are.”

Jonathon Matthews, 40, brought an out-of-town colleague to Stone Street to tell her about the history and to pick up lunch. He said he visits the street a few times a month for takeout or after-work drinks. It doesn’t feel too swarmed by tourists, he said.

“The city turned more streets into pedestrian-only centers and I love it,” said Mr. Matthews, who lives in New Rochelle. “I don’t drive into the city but I can imagine as a driver it stinks, but I think it’s great for those that are OK walking.”

Liam Stack is a Times reporter who covers the culture and politics of the New York City region. More about Liam Stack

Street Wars: The Battle for Space in New York

A Chaotic Struggle for Space: New York City streets and sidewalks have always been crowded, but it’s never been like this. Now more than ever, the city is being forced to rethink how its thoroughfares are used .

Hottest Bus Stops: Those without trees or shelter are leaving riders sweating as they wait — and wait — for buses that a transportation group says do not come fast enough .

Eighth Avenue’s Woes: At the best of times, the Manhattan street is a grand thoroughfare of vendors, tourists and commuters. But at the worst of times, Eighth Avenue is a Dickensian parade of humanity .

‘Claustrophobic’ Sidewalks: A researcher wanted to see if he could measure how crowded New York’s sidewalks are by gathering data. Here’s what he found .

Traffic Is ‘the Worst Ever’: There are more than 90,000 taxis, Ubers and Lyfts  in the city, making it hard for those drivers — and everyone else — to maneuver through the streets.

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Italian tourist plunges to his death while taking selfie with girlfriend on dream bali vacation.

A tourist plunged more than 80 feet to his death in Bali Sunday while trying to take a selfie with his girlfriend at a popular waterfall spot, according to reports.

Giancarlo Zicari, 49, and Ilaria Biagi, 25, of Italy were posing at the top of the Gajah Mas waterfalls around 11:30 a.m. when the iron railing they were leaning against suddenly collapsed, the Bali Sun reported.

The couple fell a distance equivalent to the height of an 8-story building and landed at the base of the natural tourist spot.

Biagi survived the fall but found her boyfriend dead. Despite a suspected mild head injury and abrasions throughout her body, she managed to scramble back to the top and find help.

Local police confirmed the incident to reporters in Bali, but declined to comment on the liability of the railing that buckled under their weight.

Zicari, an engineer from Rome, and Biagi had fallen from a viewing terrace that had two wooden seats next to the metal railing intended to prevent falls.

They were trying to take a selfie when the railing collapsed, the Bali Sun reported.

Police said Zicari’s family has refused to have an autopsy performed and are in the process of getting his body back to Italy.

The tragedy comes just weeks after a teenage tourist slipped off a treacherous cliffside path in Bali during a family vacation.

The 17-year-old from China sustained serious head and neck injuries but survived the fall.

The Sports Report: A look at the NFL’s new kickoff rules

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Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

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From Sam Farmer : To get up to speed on the dramatic change to NFL kickoffs this season, everyone is in for an education — players, coaches, officials and millions of fans.

With that in mind, “Thursday Night Football” executive producer Fred Gaudelli has gone back to campus.

In advance of an Aug. 22 preseason game between Indianapolis and Cincinnati, Gaudelli has arranged for a high school football team to walk through the various formations and possibilities of the new kickoff in order to get the best camera angles.

“We sat down and drew up a coverage plan,” said Gaudelli, who was working with director Pierre Moossa and producer Mark Teitelman. “We had one way of covering conventional kickoffs. So we’re going to have a totally different way of covering this kickoff. We’re trying to plan for all eventualities. So we’re bringing in a high school team to mimic the kickoffs so we can shoot it and see what works and what doesn’t.”

No ordinary rules tweak, these new kickoffs might be the biggest on-field rules change since the advent of the forward pass.

The new rules put the majority of opposing players much closer together for kickoffs, so they won’t be able to build up a head of steam for those explosive collisions. The ball is kicked from the 35-yard line with 10 kick coverage players assembled on the opposing 40, five on each side of the field.

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During Thursday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford scrambled to his left and threw a low pass near the goal line that was tipped twice.

“Stop!” coach Sean McVay said he thought to himself when he saw Stafford pursue the airborne loose ball.

McVay no doubt harked to last season at Dallas, when Stafford’s right thumb hit the turf after catching a two-point conversion pass in the end zone, aggravating an injury he suffered earlier in the game.

Jo Adell hit a bases-clearing double with two outs in a six-run fifth inning , Tyler Anderson retired Aaron Judge three times in six strong innings pitched and the Angels withstood rainy conditions for a 9-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday night.

With the rain varying in intensity, Anderson (9-10) gave up one run and three hits for his first win since July 6. The veteran left-hander struck out Judge swinging in the first, got a called third strike on the slugger in the third and retired him on a groundout in the sixth.

“He doesn’t throw with velocity but he reads bats well and he was able to get into an area where Judge couldn’t get to it,” Angels manager Ron Washington said.

Angels box score

MLB standings

UCLA GYMNASTICS

From Chuck Schilken : A lot has changed for Jordan Chiles this summer.

The gymnast won her first Olympic gold medal, helping the U.S. win. the team competition at the Paris Games last week.

She also claimed her first individual Olympic medal, bringing home the bronze Monday in the floor competition .

But, Chiles confirmed Thursday, she is still a Bruin.

The two-time NCAA national champion made the announcement in video with NBC’s “Today” show host Hoda Kotb .

CROSSFIT GAMES

From Chuck Schilken : An athlete died Thursday while swimming in a lake on the first day of competition at the CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, Texas, organizers of the international event said.

The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office identified a body recovered from Marine Creek Lake as Lazar Dukic , 28, of Serbia. No cause of death was given.

“ CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of a CrossFit Games competitor during the swimming portion of Individual Event 1 at the 2024 CrossFit Games,” the organization said in a statement. “We are fully cooperating with authorities and doing everything we can to support the family at this time. The remainder of today’s events have been suspended. The well-being of competitors is our first priority and we are heartbroken by this tragic event.”

OLYMPICS POLL

We asked you what Olympic sport you would like to eliminate, and in a shocker, it was 3 X 3 basketball getting 42% of the votes. It was what we would call a low turnout election with only 900 respondents. You were allowed to vote to for two sports.

Here is the breakdown:

3 X 3 basketball 42%

Rhythmic gymnastics 39%

Trampoline 31%

Artistic swimming (synchro) 28%

Modern pentathlon 18%

Something else 14%

Basketball 5%

THIS DATE IN SPORTS

1936 — Jesse Owens becomes the first American to win four Olympic gold medals as the United States sets a world record in the 4x100 relay at the Berlin Games. The record time of 39.8 seconds lasts for 20 years.

1981 — Larry Nelson beats Fuzzy Zoeller by three strokes to take the PGA Championship.

1984 — Britain’s Daley Thompson wins his second Olympic decathlon with a record 8,797 points and Valerie Brisco-Hooks sets her second Olympic record with a 21.81 time in the 200-meter run.

1987 — Larry Nelson sinks a 6-foot putt in the first hole of a playoff to beat Lanny Wadkins in the PGA Championship.

1988 — Edmonton Oilers trade Wayne Gretzky to the Kings.

1992 — The Summer Olympics ends with the Unified Team holding a 112-108 lead in medals over the United States, the closest race since America won 90-86 in 1964 at Tokyo.

1995 — John Godina becomes the first American to win the shot put event at the World Championships with a toss of 70 feet, 5¼ inches.

2007 — David Beckham makes his long-awaited Major League Soccer debut, entering in the 72nd minute of the Galaxy’s 1-0 loss to D.C. United.

2008 — Mariel Zagunis leads a U.S. sweep of the women’s saber fencing for the first American medals of the Beijing Games. Zagunis, the 2004 gold Olympic champion, beats Sada Jacobson 15-8 for the gold medal. Becca Ward takes the bronze.

2009 — Jennifer Song becomes the second woman to win two U.S. Golf Assn. championships in the same year, beating Jennifer Johnson 3 and 1 in the U.S. Women’s Amateur final at Old Warson. The 19-year-old Song, coming off her freshman year at USC, won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in June. Pearl Sinn is the only other woman to win two USGA titles in a year, taking the 1988 Amateur and Public Links.

2010 — No American player appears in the top 10 for the first time since the men’s tennis computer rankings began in 1973. Andy Roddick drops from No. 9 to No. 11 in the latest ATP rankings.

2012 — Usain Bolt wins the 200 meters in 19.32 seconds, making him the only man with two Olympic titles in that event. He adds it to the 100 gold he won Aug. 5, duplicating the 100-200 double he produced at the Beijing Games four years ago. This time, Bolt leads a Jamaican sweep, with his training partner and pal Yohan Blake getting the silver in 19.44, and Warren Weir taking the bronze in 19.84. The American men take the top two spots in the men’s decathlon (Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee) and triple jump (Christian Taylor and Will Claye), raising the U.S. track and field total with three days to go to 24 medals.

2012 — The U.S. women’s soccer team wins the Olympic gold medal, avenging one of its most painful defeats with a 2-1 victory over Japan. Carli Lloyd scores in the eighth and 54th minutes for the Americans, who lost to the Japanese in penalty kicks at last year’s World Cup final.

2012 — Maggie Steffens scored five times and the U.S. women’s water polo team beat Spain 8-5 to take the Olympic tournament for the first time. U.S. middleweight Claressa Shields caps her swift rise to the top of women’s Olympic boxing with a 19-12 victory over Russia’s Nadezda Torlopova. The 17-year-old Shields dances and slugs her way past her 33-year-old opponent.

2014 — Nick Rimando breaks the MLS record with his 113th shutout in Real Salt Lake’s 3-0 victory over D.C. United. Rimando broke a tie with Kevin Hartman for the record.

2016 — Michael Phelps adds to his Olympic record medal haul twice. He avenges his London 2012 loss to South African rival Chad le Clos with a 200-meter butterfly victory and his 20th career gold. Then, he anchors the 4x200 freestyle relay team for his 21st gold.

2016 — American swimmer Katie Ledecky wins her second gold medal of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 1:53.73 in the women’s 200m freestyle ahead of Sarah Sjöström of Sweden and Australian Emma McKeon.

2022 — Tennis superstar Serena Williams announces her intention to retire in an interview with “Vogue”.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time...

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected] , and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston . To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here .

Houston Mitchell is an assistant sports editor, writer of the Dodgers Dugout newsletter and editor of all of the sports newsletters for the Los Angeles Times.

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Most Tourists Are On Board With New Rules In Bali

Posted on Published: June 12, 2023

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Following the introduction of Governor Koster’s new do’s and don’ts for tourists visiting Bali, feedback from travelers has been largely positive.

Over the last few days, the ‘good tourist guide’ has started to be given to every tourist arriving in Bali. 

Reporters spoke to international tourists in Bali and asked for their views on the new behavioral guidelines and the introduction of the good tourist guide information card.

One German tourist told reporters that he was supportive of the effort to crack down on bad behavior by tourists.

Known by his initials TK, he told reporters , “I agree with the new regulations that are in the flyers that have been distributed. I am very disappointed with foreign tourists who are behaving in Bali.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by NusaBali.com (@nusabali_com)

TK is traveling to Bali for 13 days, much longer than the new average length of stay for tourists in Bali . He said that he understands the frustration and upset felt by many local people when it comes to foreigners disrespecting the law and local customs.

He added, “I don’t understand why other tourists come to a country and act like they are in their own country. I don’t understand. I don’t agree with this behavior.”

“Bali has stunning landscapes. The beaches, water, and animals are very beautiful. We have to protect the landscape and beauty of Bali. It is very important,” he continued.

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This is a sentiment that is shared by tourism stakeholders across Bali, from the central government to the provincial leadership. From returning visitors to Bali, first-time explorers, and local communities, everyone, in their own way, is keen to preserve what makes the island so special. 

The new rules, as outlined by Governor Koster in his Circular Letter Number 4 of 2023, state twelve obligations by tourists in Bali and eight prohibited behaviors. This is in addition to, of course, obeying the law of Indonesia. 

For the vast majority of tourists, the new rules are no trouble at all to adhere to. In fact, many people have noted how the rules are simply a reiteration of existing laws and customary practices and are easy to follow if you’re a tourist keen to respect the places you’re visiting. 

@travelwithrafa Have you ever been to this temple in Bali? Check out this amazing temple I just visited in Bali: Tirta Empul! It's said to have holy springs that have powerful blessings and spiritual energy. Definitely a must-see when in Bali! balitemple #bali #tirtaempul #balitravel #balilife #travelbali #indonesia ♬ Stolen Dance (Instrumental) – Milky Chance

There are several online forums and social media groups dedicated to travel in Bali.

It only takes a quick scroll through these communities to see that tourists are keen to play their role in preserving culture, natural landscapes, and the Bali of old.

Bali lovers are often quick to comment about the impacts of tourism development on the island and the implications it has on the environment and local livelihoods. 

Bali is a travel destination that continues to grow in popularity, with hundreds of thousands of first-time visitors arriving every year.

What makes Bali such a special vacation destination is that there are almost just as many returning visitors every year.

Bali is an especially important vacation destination for travelers from Australia, thousands of whom have a long-standing relationship with the island. 

As Bali entered the peak vacation season, the busiest time of the year outside of the Eid al-Fitr and Christmas and New Year holidays, tourism stakeholders are working hard to ensure that tourists are set up to succeed.

In this sense, tourism authorities on the island are calling on hotels, restaurants, tourism attractions, and tour guides to all play a fair role in ensuring tourists understand what behavior is and isn’t acceptable.

One big step forward in circulating this information is through the good tourist guide info card that will now be slipped into passports when travelers are stamped into Bali.

The second is huge billboard posters outlining rules and relations at strategic locations across the island.

The third is the deployment of tourism task forces to follow up on reports of poorly behaved tourists. 

Tourism stakeholders are also discussing a series of even more novel approaches, including the development of an app for tourists and even creating plaques at tourist attractions where violations have taken place, warning visitors of the consequences of disobeying the rules. 

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Friday 16th of June 2023

Try looking in the direction Of the russians which are mostly the culprits. Even doing graffiti advertising for cocaine via telegram around dreamlands its disgusting

Thursday 15th of June 2023

"The second is huge billboard posters outlining rules and relations at strategic locations across the island".

A totally unnecessary and stupid eye sore for an insignificant amount of misbehaving foreign tourists.

@JK, The billboards are so obnoxious. Another little Bali Boy emperor with his cute face adorning the highways. Please stop it.

@JK, Follow the money.

Captain Obvious

Tuesday 13th of June 2023

Much ado about nothing much.

None of this appears to be going on anywhere else in Asia.

@Captain Obvious, There are so many bad behaving foreign tourist videos from Thailand and yet the authorities there have not over reacted.

Wednesday 14th of June 2023

@Captain Obvious, Bali is unique as adapting to common local driving style (no helmet, no license, 5 on a bike, use racing exhaust, wearing flipflops, speeding etc) risk deportation while adapting to local driving style in other asian countries you will gain respect.

Craig Emmett

Isn't it bad that we have to put a set of rules in place to TELL people how to behave when they visit other countries whose cultures/attitudes are different from where we come from. Is that not the reason that we travel, to experience these differences? I guess it is a real reflection of human society, the examples set by our piers,(our politicians,lawmakers,religious leaders and parents/guardians.) Where is common decency/sense in the way we interact with each other? I am no angel, I have travelled to numerous places throughout S.E.Asia (inc Bali,x four times) and the Pacific Islands, had some fun times. If these idiots insist on doing all the wrong things because they have some warped interpretation of their own glory, then let them receive their just rewards via the laws of that country they are visiting. I am sure that they would NOT be game to commit some of those antics in their own country!

@Craig Emmett, The 'rules' aren't aimed at the overwhelming majority. Think of it this way. In Oz there's speed, red light and phone cameras. Designated speed signs, cops with lasers, double point media stuff.... They're not aimed at the overwhelming ,majority of motorists who have no problem accepting and complying.

@Craig Emmett, Social media and all the narcissists taking selfies and staring at their phones have destroyed so much all over the world.

How effective is the rule?

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Much-loved attraction near famous Portugal beach introduces new tourist rules

• Maleeha Katib
• Published : 23:06, 13 Aug 2024
• Updated : 1:03, 14 Aug 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

A POPULAR hot spot near a famous beach in Portugal has introduced new rules for tourists.

One of Portugal 's most Insta-famous spots, the stunning Benagil Caves, has just slapped down a strict new set of rules – and tourists better take note if they want to avoid a hefty fine.

From today, the picturesque Benagil Caves in the Algarve are off-limits for swimming and sunbathing inside.

Tough new regulations aim to protect the area's natural beauty and prevent overcrowding.

The caves, known for their jaw-dropping skylight that opens up to the heavens, have long been a hotspot for holidaymakers.

But now, even thinking about paddling over without a guide or dropping anchor in the sandy cove could see you in hot water – literally and financially.

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In a bid to keep the area safe and sustainable, the new rules – officially rolled out on July 30 – ban private and commercial vessels from disembarking inside the caves.

Swimming and using floaties to reach the caves are also now totally forbidden.

And if you're planning to kayak, you’d better book a tour – hiring a kayak without a guide is no longer allowed.

The new guidelines also limit the number of boats and kayaks allowed inside the caves at any one time.

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Kayak tours must now stick to a strict ratio of one guide for every six visitors, ensuring a more controlled experience.

Boat operators flouting the rules could be hit with fines up to a staggering £184,600 (€216,000).

This isn't just a simple slap on the wrist.

The Benagil Caves Working Group, set up last August, means business – and they're not messing around when it comes to protecting this natural wonder.

But it’s not just the Benagil Caves that are feeling the pinch of new rules.

Portugal’s getting serious about its booming tourist industry – and it’s not all sunshine and selfies.

Last year, the Portuguese government laid down the law with a fresh batch of measures to tackle the country's housing crisis .

One of the most controversial moves was the ban on new licenses for Airbnbs and other short-term holiday rentals.

With rents soaring by 37 per cent and wages lagging far behind, locals have been priced out of their own homes .

Prime Minister Antonio Costa warned that the crisis was hitting every family, not just the most vulnerable, and something had to give.

The government’s housing package sparked fierce debate – and it’s clear the country's relationship with tourism is shifting.

And for those hoping to snap up a Golden Visa, Portugal’s set to pull the plug on the programme that offers EU passports to non-EU nationals.

Critics have slammed the scheme, saying it’s only driven up property prices even more.

So, If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, keep your ear to the ground and follow the rules – or risk having your dream holiday turn into a costly nightmare.

The sun, sea, and sand may be waiting, but from the caves of Benagil to the bustling streets of Lisbon, things are changing fast.

It's not just Portugal introducing controversial travel rules.

A travel shake-up is on the horizon for Brits heading to Europe next year, with new rules set to make your holiday plans a bit more complicated.

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Meanwhile, this popular tourist destination is also planning to increase its  daily tourist charge .

And this  UK seaside town  became the first to tax tourists this year.

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