Aussies behaving badly in Bali have been put on notice as the holiday island announces a crackdown on unruly tourists.
The island’s recently re-elected Governor Wayan Koster has warned travellers to show respect for the people, culture and environment or they could be jailed or fined.
Mr Koster also released an updated list of seven banned acts.
‘We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change we need to adapt,’ he said.
‘This ensures that Bali’s tourism remains respectful, sustainable and in harmony with our local values.’
The fightback from the authorities comes after footage emerged of a tourist being wheeled on a trolley through Bali’s streets by security staff with his wrists and ankles tied.
‘Drunk foreigner causes chaos at Y Sport Bar, Legian – starts hitting people,’ the caption to the video shared on the bali.info.official Instagram page said.
Legian is a popular tourist area of Denpasar located between the bustling hive of Kuta to the south and Seminyak to the north.
Aussies behaving badly in Bali have been warned to improve their behaviour or they could be fined, jailed or thrown out of the holiday island
The man’s nationality was unclear, but the incident followed Australians being caught up in a brawl at the famous Finns Beach Club in nearby North Kuta earlier this year.
Five tourists had a fight with about 15 security staff in that incident.
The trouble started when a man allegedly harassed a woman inside the club before he was evicted and then turned on security.
Bali police claimed he had previously been warned for anti-social behaviour before he was kicked out of the bar.
Updated seven regulations
No entering sacred temple areas, unless for worship while wearing traditional Balinese attire.
No climbing sacred trees or monuments, including taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites.
No littering or polluting Bali’s environment.
No using single-use plastics, including plastic bags, Styrofoam, and plastic straws.
No aggressive or disrespectful behaviour, including swearing, causing disturbances, or being rude to locals, officials or other tourists. This includes sharing hate speech or misinformation on social media.
No working or running a business without proper permits.
No participating in illegal activities, such as trading in drugs or endangered animals.
Along with the list of banned acts, Mr Koster also issued a list of things tourists in Bali should do.
Bali’s list of ‘Dos’ for tourists
Do respect sacred sites and symbols.
Do dress appropriately and “when visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces, tourists are expected to wear modest and respectful clothing”.
Two tourists, from Australia and Germany, had to be taken back to their hotel rooms in a trolley after a night out in South East Asia (pictured)
Do behave respectfully.
Do pay the tourist levy of about $14.25.
Do use licensed tour guides.
Do exchange currency at authorities’ money changers.
Do follow traffic laws, including having a valid international or national driver’s licence, wearing a helmet, and follow traffic signs.
Do use legal transportation.
Do stay at licensed accommodation
Speaking at a press conference in Bali, the governor said the rules would be ‘strictly enforced’ and that tourists who don’t pay the levy would be denied access to attractions.
Anyone who chooses to ignore the new Bali regulations and laws has been warned they will face the consequences of Indonesian law
To ensure the fee is paid, inspections to verify payments were carried out in several major tourist areas of Bali in recent days.
Anyone who chooses to ignore the regulations and laws has been warned they will face the consequences of Indonesian law.
‘Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them,’ Mr Koster said.
Around 1.5million Australians visit Bali each year, and while the vast majority do nothing wrong, it only takes a few incidents to give Aussies a bad name.
‘It is only a small minority that misbehave,’ Indonesia Institute president Robbie Gaspar told 7News.
‘I think it is just to give everyone a bit of a reminder – respect Bali, respect their rules, you’re in a foreign country, just behave, as you would anywhere.’
Bali is not the only destination where Australians do things that lead to unwanted encounters with the local authorities.
Late last year, Daily Mail Australia revealed an Aussie who had to be wheeled back to her hostel in a trolley by cops after a night out in Thailand is a hospitality worker from Victoria.
Tahli Benson, 19, from Geelong, and her German friend Sina Baumann, 23, were partying on Koh Phi Phi, in Krabi, on November 29 when they passed out at a local bar.
Viral footage showing Sergeant Major Saneh Jualaong wheeling the pair back to their accommodation in a pushcart that he borrowed from a nearby shop.
