This Romantic Destination Just Banned Extramarital Sex, Even For Tourists

OWith its postcard-worthy beaches, Zen yoga retreats and exotic Hindu temples, it’s no wonder Bali ranks fourth among the world’s most popular destinations in 2022 in the world. Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Awards. (Last year it was number 1.)

But travelers might want to think twice before planning a romantic getaway to the tropical Southeast Asian island that’s only slightly larger than the state of Delaware.

On Tuesday, Indonesia’s parliament passed a controversial revision to its penal code, making sex outside marriage punishable by up to a year in prison. The legislation will apply to citizens and foreign visitors, although it is unclear how the law would be applied.

Australian newspapers were quick to coin the phrase Bali bonk ban to refer to the new morality law. Many of the more than one million Australians who visit Indonesia each year travel to Bali to enjoy the sand, surf and sun.

Pending the expected ratification by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the new penal code will come into force within the next three years. The law also limits free speech, reinstating the ban on insulting a sitting president and other officials. Insulting the President of Indonesia will result in a sentence of up to three years in prison.

The revised legislation has shocked human rights activists and placed a giant question mark over the country’s tourism sector.

Sung Y. Kim, US Ambassador to Indonesia, suggested at AmCham Investment Summit that the new legislation could dampen interest in doing business in the country. Criminalizing individuals’ personal decisions would figure prominently in the decision matrix of many companies deciding whether or not to invest in Indonesia, he said.

Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch tweeted, Passing the Indonesian penal code that prohibits sex outside of marriage will blow up Bali’s tourism industry, is what I hear at the resort I’m staying at for a conference that just ended. Why are Joko Widodo and his government trying to ruin the country’s tourism?

In March, Indonesia reopened to tourism after two years of being closed to international tourists during the pandemic. Foreign visitors no longer have to self-quarantine as long as they are doubly vaccinated against Covid-19; negative test before departure and on arrival; and have health insurance covering at least $15,000 in medical expenses.

The following month, the The World Travel and Tourism Council has issued an optimistic forecast Indonesia’s tourism industry would create more than five million new jobs over the next decade and contribute $118 billion to Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Indonesia’s travel and tourism sector is enjoying a strong recovery, with very good forecasts for GDP and employment, said Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC at the time. We commend the Indonesian government for putting travel and tourism high on the global agenda at the upcoming G20.

Now the country’s tourism officials fear the new laws could scare tourists away from its idyllic shores. Maulana Yusran, deputy head of Indonesia’s tourism industry council, called the law totally counterproductive.