Bali travel guidelines – An Appeal to Tourists

In the past, tourists in Bali have attracted negative attention on several occasions. Some of them have behaved disrespectfully towards Balinese culture, the Hindu faith or even the locals. At some point, the Balinese government felt it was necessary to intervene. Some restrictions were introduced and a code of conduct for tourists in Bali was handed out upon arrival.

Good Tourist Guidebook with rules of conduct

The Good Tourist Guidebook, as the travel guidelines are called, is intended to sensitize travelers to Balinese culture, sanctuaries and the customs of the islanders. The aim is for tourists to behave respectfully towards the Balinese religion, traditions and locals.

The travel guidelines for Bali

The rules of conduct for Bali handed out upon entry are divided into “Dos” and “Dont’s”, i.e. things you are allowed to do and things you are not allowed to do. We provide a translation of the rules of conduct below:

Dos: Things you should do in Bali

1. Respect the sacred temples, pratimas (sacred statues) and religious symbols;
2. wholeheartedly respect the customs, traditions, arts, culture and local wisdom of the Balinese during ongoing ceremonial processions and rituals;
3. dress decently, appropriately and respectfully when visiting sacred sites, tourist attractions and public places and participating in activities in Bali;
4. Behave politely in sacred areas, tourist areas, restaurants, shopping malls, streets and other public places;
5. When visiting tourist attractions, be accompanied by licensed tour guides (who are familiar with the natural environment, customs, traditions and local wisdom of the Balinese);
6. Exchange foreign currency at authorized money changers (both banks and non-banks) that are officially licensed and bear the bank’s license number and the Bank Indonesia QR code logo;
7. Make payments using the Indonesian Standard QR Code (QRIS);
8. conduct transactions in the Indonesian rupiah;
9. Comply with traffic laws applicable in Indonesia, i.e. you should have a valid international or domestic driver’s license, follow traffic rules, dress modestly, wear a helmet, observe road signs, not exceed passenger capacity, and not drive under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs;
10. Use four-wheeled vehicles that are roadworthy and officially registered, or two-wheeled vehicles operated by a legal entity or association for the rental of two-wheeled vehicles;
11. Stay in accommodation that has the necessary permits in accordance with the applicable regulations;
12. Comply with all specific regulations/rules that apply to each tourist attraction and tourist activity.

Do’s and Don’ts: Things you should and shouldn’t do in Bali

1. When entering sacred areas: Stay away from utamaning mandala and madyaning mandala, sacred and consecrated places such as puras and pelinggihs – unless you are there for a traditional Balinese ceremony, in which case you must be dressed appropriately and not be menstruating.
2. Do not touch sacred trees.
3. Behaviour that defiles sacred places, temples, idols and religious symbols, such as climbing on sacred structures and taking indecent or nude photographs
4. Littering and polluting lakes, springs, rivers, seas and public areas
5. Use of single-use plastics such as plastic bags, polystyrene (styrofoam) and plastic straws
6. Use abusive, disrespectful, disruptive, or aggressive behavior towards authorities, local communities, and other tourists, either directly or indirectly through social media, including the dissemination of hate speech and hoaxes
7. work or conduct business without proper documentation issued by the relevant authorities
8. engage in illegal activities, such as trafficking in illicit goods, including endangered flora and fauna, cultural artifacts and sacred objects, and illicit drugs.

Conclusion: Respect the travel guidelines in Bali

The Balinese regional government has formulated rules of conduct for tourists for good reason. The island’s very special culture, which is considered a hallmark of Bali, should be respected and protected. Unfortunately, the behavior of some tourists has led to the fact that written rules of conduct must now be followed when entering the country. We therefore appeal to all travelers: behave mindfully and respectfully on the wonderful island of Bali.