Temple tiff troubles Bali tourism sector
Bali’s tourist industry is urging the provincial administration to implement stricter regulations for tourist visits to temples instead of banning tourists altogether.
Their concern, carried in the Jakarta Post, responds to a move by Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika to keep temples free of tourists.
Stakeholders, including the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies and the Indonesian Tour Guide Association, agreed that Bali’s tourist sites "need better management and a set of strict regulations".
A group spokesman said that restricting temples from public visits "would be counterproductive to all parties".
"Local tour guides, souvenir sellers and kiosk owners get a living from tourists," the spokesman added.
Three of Bali’s temples, Tanah Lot, Taman Ayun and Uluwatu, are top drawcards for tourists in Bali.
In March this year, an Estonian couple was caught having sex in a temple. Police freed them but villagers demanded the couple pay 20 million rupiah ($2,000) to fund a cleansing ritual.
The couple admitted they had also used the temple’s sacred water fountain before having sex.
The chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association said the incident highlighted the need for a campaign educating tourists on the proper conduct when inside temple compounds.
Ian Jarrett
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.
































CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season