Bali introduces ‘guidebook’ detailing how to dress and act amid crackdown on misbehaving tourists

Australian tourists travelling to Bali will soon be given a ‘guidebook’ with instructions on how to dress and act while visiting the tropical holiday hotspot. 

The paradise island known for its clear waters, blue skies and cheap beer, has long been a favourite of holidaymakers looking for a laid-back and carefree paradise. 

Bali is the second most popular tourist destination for Australians, with more than 2.1million visiting the island last year, making Aussies the highest number of foreigners in the Indonesian country in any given month. 

However, locals have recently complained about an increasing number of tourists flouting rules and customs and causing havoc amongst the locals.   

Head of Bali’s Regional Office of Ministry of Law and Human Rights Anggiat Napitupulu on Sunday announced plans for a ‘good tourist guidebook’ for travellers.

The guidebook will give travellers instructions on how to act and dress when they are in, on or around cultural landmarks and sacred sites (stock picture) 

‘It needs to be known that not all foreigners know what things are allowed and not allowed in Bali,’ Mr Napitupulu said, according to The Bali Sun. 

‘We hope to accelerate the completion of the guidebook or guidance book.’ 

Mr Napitupulu said work was already underway for the manual, which is expected to include an introduction to Balinese culture and customs.

The manual will also explain the island’s road rules and give tourists instructions on how to dress and behave in, on or around sacred sites and cultural landmarks. 

Funded by local government, the guidebook is part of a larger campaign to restore Indonesia’s image following a spate of cases involving badly behaved tourists.

Unruly foreigners were caught desecrating sacred sites, engaging in public nudity, drunkenness and other serious criminal behaviour. 

In February, a Russian tourist was caught riding under the influence of alcohol after he crashed into a local rider, causing the Bali man to be hospitalised. 

The holiday destination was also marred by a fatal motorcycle accident in January when a Ukrainian visitor and a Russian tourist both died in a road collision.

A specialised task force comprising of police and officials focusing on finding and prosecuting undocumented workers was established in March. 

In its first week, the task force arrested six tourists – three sex workers, two motorbike driving instructors and a tennis coach – and issued deportation orders after discovering they were working illegally. 

A 28-year-old was also deported at the beginning of March after authorities accused him of working as a photographer while on an investment visa. 

Another tourist named Yuri sparked outrage on March 19 after he shared a picture of himself with his pants around his ankles at the summit of sacred Mount Agung.

The tourist deleted the photo and issued apologised to Bali officials, taking part in a ceremonial offering to the Gods before being deported.

An Australian expat living in Bali was slammed for her bad behaviour after a video of her screaming at a police officer circulated online in March. 

It comes as Bali officials crack down on unruly tourists following a series of cases involving unruly tourists. In March a tourist sparked outrage after posing with his pants around his ankles at the summit of the sacred Mount Agung (pictured)

The tourist, known as Yuri (pictured right) issued an apology and took part in a ceremonial offering to the Gods to show his remorse (pictured) before he was deported

The woman was reportedly riding her scooter on a road in Canggu, a resort village on the south coast of the island, when she was stopped for not wearing a helmet. 

Last year, influencer Alina Fazleeva was deported from Bali after posing naked next to a 700-year-old sacred tree. 

The guidebook is yet another proposed plan introduced by Bali officials to help combat misbehaving travellers.

The island’s governor Wayan Koster on March 13 announced a proposed ban on foreign tourists from riding motorbikes in Bali. 

Under the ban, a foreign traveller will no longer be able to rent a motorbike and will need to hire a car from a travel agency or tourism service. 

Mr Koster said tourists are ‘disorderly and they misbehave’ and claimed the proposed rule will help meet standards to ‘ensure quality and dignified tourism’.

On March 7, Bali Tourism Board Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana announced plans for an educational billboard campaign used to teach tourists how to dress and behave.

The billboards will have instructions and advice written in English, with billboards in foreign languages likely to follow. 

Authorities confirmed at least 10 billboards will be installed where violations occur the most, including Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu.

‘The point is that tourists respect Balinese cultural customs by dressing well and neatly, following in an orderly manner, carrying out traffic activities and not doing things that are outside the provisions,’ Mr Adnyana said.