Arriving Tourists Get 'To-Don't List' in Bali

Denpasar. The immigration office in Bali on Friday began to hand out a list of things tourists must avoid doing on the pre-dominantly Hindu island, following a series of incidents involving misbehaved tourists that caused public outrage and led to deportations.
Visitors arriving at Ngurah Rai International Airport were given cards containing Do's and Don't's during their stay in Bali.
The card reads:
"We welcome all foreign tourists to Bali and remind you to 'DON'T':
- enter the main area of sacred places unless for praying by wearing Balinese traditional clothes and not having a period [for women],
- climb sacred trees,
- take pictures with improper clothes around sacred places,
- do littering,
- use non-recyclable plastics,
- misbehave in public areas,
- work or do business illegally,
- do illegal trading."
It adds that any offense will risk legal measures or deportation.
“Please report to the immigration office immediately if you witness disrespectful behaviors by foreign visitors,” Anggiat Napitupulu, the head of the Justice Ministry office in Bali, was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
Anggiat said 48 immigration officials were involved to hand out the cards to incoming overseas tourists once they completed immigration checks.
The directives are based on a Bali governor circular issued recently as part of a crackdown on unruly tourists, who were often caught riding motorcycles without helmets and proper driver's licenses or posing naked in sacred areas.
A Russian tourist was recently deported after posing naked from the waist down on the summit of Bali's Mount Agung.
Last month, a woman with a German passport was sent to the psychiatric hospital after she was involved in several incidents including her stripping naked during a traditional Balinese dance show.
The Bali governor circular also introduces 12 Do's, published on the leading tourism website welcomebacktobali.com as follows:
- 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 authorized money changers (both banks and non-banks) that are officially licensed and display the authorization 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.
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