The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, has officially issued Circular Letter (SE) Number 7 of 2025, introducing new regulations for foreign tourists visiting the island.
This policy aims to preserve Bali’s sacred values, uphold local wisdom, and encourage tourists to act respectfully and follow local norms during their stay.
Under the new circular, foreign visitors are required to adhere to several key guidelines. They must show respect for the sanctity of temples, religious symbols, customs, and traditions of the Balinese community.
Additionally, tourists are urged to dress modestly when visiting sacred sites, tourist attractions, and public places, while maintaining polite behavior throughout their activities on the island.
The circular also mandates that foreign tourists pay tourism fees electronically via the official website lovebali.baliprov.go.id.
Tourists must hire licensed tour guides, exchange money at authorized money changers, conduct transactions in Indonesian rupiah, and comply with traffic regulations, including carrying a valid international or national driver’s license.
The circular explicitly prohibits certain actions. Tourists are banned from entering sacred temple areas (Utamaning Mandala and Madyaning Mandala) unless they are attending religious ceremonies in traditional Balinese attire.
Other prohibited behaviors include climbing sacred trees, taking inappropriate photos at holy sites, littering, and using single-use plastic.
Additionally, the policy forbids tourists from engaging in unauthorized work, spreading hate speech on social media, or participating in illegal activities. Violators will face strict sanctions in accordance with Indonesian law.
To enforce these rules, Bali’s Provincial Civil Service Police (Satpol PP) will conduct regular monitoring, while the Bali Regional Police have been instructed to take firm legal action against those who break the regulations.
Local residents are encouraged to report violations by tourists through the designated WhatsApp hotline at +62 81-287-590-999.
Governor Wayan Koster expressed hope that the circular will help maintain harmony between tourists, the local community, and Bali’s cultural values.
He emphasized that the success of these measures will depend on collaboration from all stakeholders, ensuring that Bali remains a safe, orderly, and spiritually rich destination. (BT)