The Bali government is taking action against misbehaving foreign tourists by drafting a Do’s and Don’ts guidebook for visitors. The Bali Tourism Agency is in the process of compiling a list of guidelines that will instruct both foreign and local tourists on what they must and must not do while visiting the island.
The guidelines will contain several points that must be followed and avoided while tourists are in Bali, including respecting local customs and nature, as well as adhering to traffic rules.
The head of Bali’s Tourism Agency, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, explained that the guidelines will include regulations set out in both local and provincial laws regarding Bali’s tourism governance. Pemayun added that the guidebook was initiated by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, and was created in collaboration with Bali’s provincial Bank Indonesia, as well as various tourism-related groups such as GIPI and PHRI.
The draft guidebook is currently being checked by Bali’s legal bureau and is expected to be completed within a week. Once finished, it will be distributed to the tourism industry in the form of a flyer in both English and Indonesian.
Pemayun hopes that the guidelines will help to increase the quality of tourists visiting Bali and curb negative behaviors such as opening businesses or behaving recklessly.
In addition to the creation of the Do’s and Don’ts guidebook, the Bali provincial government has proposed stricter rules for Visa on Arrival (VOA) for tourists from Russia and Ukraine, as well as requesting the implementation of VOA rules for tourists from other countries by the central government.
Governor Koster hopes that these measures will prevent any negative sentiment towards Indonesia from certain countries and promote responsible tourism in Bali.
The initiative to create a guidebook for tourists and tighten visa regulations is not a new one, as several other countries have implemented similar measures to control the behavior of tourists in their respective countries.
By implementing guidelines and regulations, governments can help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both tourists and locals alike.