Bali’s Governor, Wayan Koster, has signed off on policy changes and updates that will affect all international tourists from now on.
As Governor Koster starts his second term in office, he and his teams are eager to introduce legislation that will help improve the quality of the tourism sector across the island.
Governor Koster has officially issued policies outlined in a document titled “Circular Letter (SE) No. 07 of 2025 concerning New Regulations for Foreign Tourists During Their Stay in Bali”.
This circular letter is an update to the policies outlined in SE No. 4 of 2023, which were bought into effect during his first term in office.
Speaking to the media in Denpasar on Monday 24th March 2025, Governor Koster explained “Several aspects needed refinement due to the dynamics that have occurred over the past one and a half years.”
He continued “This [circular letter] is not just an appeal but will be enforced through integrated supervision involving the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) and tourism institutions in Bali.”
He was clear that a new a special team will be formed to conduct enforcement operations for these new updates policies. Governor Koster reiterated that if foreign tourists are found violating the rules, they will face strict consequences.
The provincial leader told the media “We have prepared a special team to conduct an operation. Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly.”
Above all else, Governor Koster and his government want to ensure that tourists visiting Bali respect local culture and honor the customs of the land.
He explained that the policy updates are a call for foreigners to “Sincerely respect the customs, traditions, arts and culture as well as the local wisdom of the Balinese people in the on-going ceremonies and ritual processions.”
These comments are particularity pertinent as Bali is just days away from observing Nyepi, the holy day of silence, on 29th March 2025.
The rules are an updated version of the Do’s and Don’ts of Bali travel as first published in 2023. The updated rules are as follows:
SE No. 07 of 2025 outlines several provisions that foreign tourists must adhere to during their stay in Bali, including:
- Respecting the sanctity of temples (Pura), religious symbols, and sacred objects.
- Honoring local customs, traditions, arts and culture.
- Wear modest and appropriate clothing when visiting sacred sites, tourist attractions, and public areas.
- Paying the foreign tourist levy electronically via the website lovebali.baliprov.go.id .
- Be accompanied by a licensed tour guide when visiting tourist attractions.
- Exchanging foreign currency only at authorized money changers with permission from Bank Indonesia.
- Using the Indonesian Standard QR Code and the Indonesian Rupiah for transactions.
- Complying with traffic regulations, including possessing a valid international or national driver’s license.
- Staying in licensed accommodation and using official transportation services.
The Circulator letter also explained that in addition to the obligations, the policy also prohibits foreign tourists from engaging in certain activities, such as:
- Entering sacred areas (Utamaning Mandala and Madyaning Mandala) except for prayer purposes while wearing traditional Balinese attire.
- Climbing sacred trees or behaving disrespectfully in sacred places.
- Littering or using single-use plastics.
- Using offensive language, behaving aggressively, or spreading hate speech on social media.
- Working or conducting business without official permits.
- Engaging in illegal activities, including the trade of flora, fauna, and cultural artifacts.
Governor Koster concluded, “All parties must understand, implement, and socialize these [policies] to their staff and foreign tourists visiting Bali.”
In light of these legislative updates the general public are also being encouraged to actively report violations via the WhatsApp hotline at 081-287-590-999.
The Bali Satpol PP and Bali Regional Police have been given instructions to issue strict supervision and take firm action against any violations enacted by foreigners in the province.
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Randy
Thursday 27th of March 2025
A visa given to a foreigner is NOT an entitlement. It’s a privilege! Follow the laws, behave yourself, and respect the local customs. If you have a bad attitude on everything then you will not enjoy your stay as a retiree or as a visitor to the country.
Every sovereign nation has the right to know who’s coming into the country and what their intentions are and the importance of security at points of entry. Behave yourself or get deported.
Bali is overrun by foreign tourists. Simple as that. The culture and way of life in Bali have begun to diminish in order to accommodate foreigners and their intentions in Bali. Like it or not. It is also a fact where places in Bali has become more gentrified. Bali is NOT what many of us used to know back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, a sleepy island of the Gods with respectful selected visitors.
Randy
Thursday 27th of March 2025
It’s mind boggling that the Balisun has become a place for people generally biased to post their grievances. Some of these people may live in Bali, some may not even assimilate and some may not make an effort to speak the language, and some may not even care of the culture and customs.
Furthermore some are retirees in Bali with a retiree visa that enable them to get a KITAS or a KITAP and tap into the National health care to get cheaper medication and health care. And some may still complain while taking advantage of living in the islands of the gods and the benefits that they have to offer. It sounds more and more like some immigrants who moved to the West, where some do not assimilate or some not wanting to learn the language but would happily receive social benefits. Sigh...
BaliEyeWitness...
Wednesday 26th of March 2025
"The Bali Satpol PP and Bali Regional Police have been given instructions to issue strict supervision and take firm action against any violations enacted by foreigners in the province. "
This should be
"The Bali Satpol PP and Bali Regional Police have been given instructions to issue strict supervision and take firm action against any violations enacted by anyone in the province including Indonesian citizens as well as WNA."
Exp
Wednesday 26th of March 2025
@BaliEyeWitness..., From my experience that is not how it works here. They will rarely touch the well connected, members of ormas, wealthy or those of high social status. The rest will also be ignored as they have little or no money. Understand that concept and then everything becomes much clearer.
Andrew
Tuesday 25th of March 2025
Will he crack down on the open daylight drug dealers in Kuta?
They are very easy to spot.
BaliEyeWitness...
Wednesday 26th of March 2025
@Andrew, ada banyak korupsi di sana 😉
Shorty
Tuesday 25th of March 2025
Koster how about focusing on improving the basic standard of living to an acceptable level for the bulk of the population who live outside the main tourist areas? As a local what would you choose? Reliable continued basic amenities, or making the place more acceptable for tourists