Indonesia’s Ban On Sex, The Impact On Tourism And More

A new criminal code that outlaws sex outside of marriage was approved by the Indonesian parliament three months ago (December 2022). And according to officials, violators of the law risk up to one year in prison.

Additionally, the new laws make it illegal for unmarried couples to live together. The country currently prohibits adultery but not sex outside of marriage, and it won’t take effect for three years.

But will this law only apply to citizens, or will it also apply to tourists from other countries who visit the country?

The new regulations, according to the Indonesian tourism board, are “totally counterproductive” in the context of the country’s efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are deeply disappointed that the government has shut their eyes. The board stated, “We have already expressed our concern regarding the law’s harmfulness to the ministry of tourism.”

The new law has been dubbed the “Bali bonk ban” by national newspapers.

The law is a good idea, according to Finch, an Australian tourist who typically visits Indonesia, but it has happened before. He stated that it was almost passed in 2019, but it faltered.

Meanwhile, Australia has stated that it is “seeking further clarification” regarding the consequences of the ban for tourists traveling to Bali and other parts of the country.

A US State Department spokesperson also told a news briefing that the country was worried about how the changes could affect Indonesians living and visiting there.

Experts in the travel industry believe that this will deter tourists from visiting Indonesia and may also prevent foreign investment in the tourism sector.

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They think that making it illegal for people to make their own decisions would be a big factor in how many businesses decide whether or not to invest in Indonesia.

However, despite the fact that the law technically applies to both tourists and locals, authorities insist that foreign visitors’ marital status will not be checked. There are limits on who can report individuals overstepping new ‘profound quality’ regulations. It is only open to people who are suspected offenders’ parents, spouses, or children.

But tourists have been assured by Indonesia’s Deputy Justice Minister that they will not be prosecuted for engaging in extramarital sex.

Human rights groups have criticized Indonesia’s new criminal code, which prohibits criticism of the country’s president and places restrictions on demonstrations.

The law has also been called “appalling” and a “significant blow” to the country’s progress on human rights by Amnesty International.