"Bali Needs New Rules To Attract “Quality” Tourists After Tourists Disrespect Balinese Temples." Says Bali’s deputy governor.

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For more info about Bali: Bali Travel Info

Photo: Bali Travel Info

Bali is an island of temples, based on the catalogue of the Department of Religion at least eleven thousand temples - small and large, local and regional reside on the island.   Bali is famous for the beautiful beaches, local food, rain forests, the capital of the new age in this era.  For so many reasons, Bali island attracts about  five million foreign tourists each year.  

Photo: Bali Travel Info

Sadly, in the recent years, so many tourists disrespect toward the Balinese temples and sacred sites on the island; climbing on sacred Hindu sites and posing in bikinis.  “An image of a Danish tourist sitting in the Linggih Padmasana shrine at the  Luhur Batukaru temple went viral.”   The shrine is reserved for the most important Deity in Balinese Hinduism, known as the Supreme God. Sitting on sacred sites in Bali  is regarded as highly offensive to our faith. 

Photo: Daily Mail

So many pictures were gone viral on the internet about tourists behaving offensively on the island.   “Other offensive behaviors that took place consisted of climbing on temples, structures and a woman posing in her bikini in front of the temple doing the downward dog yoga pose. The Bali local government believed the recent increase of visitors was negatively impacting the island.”

Photo: Daily Mail

The government considers to set new guidelines in order to draw in more “quality”tourists.  Bali’s deputy governor, Cok Ace noticed a different “quality” of tourists than ever before. “It is because we are too open to tourists, so too many come.”

The Indonesian Hindu Religious Council has instructed the police to investigate the Linggih Padmasana shrine incident and find the tourist responsible, enforcing their strict blasphemy laws.

The new guidelines are intended to preserve Bali’s culture and customs through the temples. The government is also planning to restrict tourist access shrines and temples in Bali.

Most sacred sites have  a dress code  and certain rules to follow before enter the sacred sites and temples on the island.  

Please ask your travel guides the dress code and guidelines before entering any temples on the island.

Happy Travels!