Last week Indonesia passed a draconian ‘anti-sex’ law which sees people facing potential jail time for having sex or living together before marriage.

Perhaps shockingly, tourists and tourist areas of Indonesia, such as Bali, were not spared from any potential enforcement that’s slated to come into effect from 2025. As the law is written, a happily vacationing couple could theoretically be arrested for consummating the relationship before putting a ring on it.

The very idea of being locked up for going on vacation with a love interest seems dystopian. As expected, most tourism industry stakeholders strongly opposed the new law. Now, after its unanimous passing, attempts are being made to quell travel fears.

Wayan Koster, Bali’s Governor, is among the first telling tourists not to worry, saying that they shouldn’t be impacted. It’s an important assurance, particularly for a vague with enforcement possible based on hearsay. Particularly in a country ranking 96th on the corruption index.

Bali Claims No Impact To Tourists

There are many potentially negative impacts of Indonesia’s new ‘anti-sex’ law that fall outside the purview of travel. However, for our purposes the tourism impacts are critical to understand.

Balinese Governor Wayan Koster, is assuring international media that visitors are not the focus of the laws and that those on the island of Bali should feel at ease.

“(People) who visit or live in Bali would not need to worry with regard to the entry into force of the Indonesian Criminal Code.There will be no checking on marital status upon check-in at any tourism accommodation, such as hotels, villas, apartments, guest houses, lodges and spas,”

Wayan Koster, Governor of Bali

Will It Widen Tourism?

In terms of international tourism goals, the timing of this new law in the world’s largest Muslim country by population is compelling.

In recent years, Indonesia expressed a strong desire to bring international tourism to other areas of the country. The push for drawing visitors to more areas is to both relieve the strain on natural resources and to more broadly share the positive economic impacts of tourism.

Bali has done well to get ahead of the messaging of this troublesome new law, and it may make a significant difference. It’s hard to imagine international tourists will be eager to brave other areas of the country where such protections don’t exist.

Bali has proclaimed it won’t be enforcing these laws on tourists in any way, and that’s an important distinction.