Lagatar24 Desk
Indonesia, Jan 8: The tourists are concerned about Indonesia’s new criminal code banning sex outside of marriage, reported NHK World.
There are worries in the tourism industry in Bali that the code will take another bite out of visitor numbers.
I Putu Winastra, Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agency Bali, said, “Especially in European countries, many people live together without getting married and even have children. We must protect their privacy.”
Simon Butt, a professor and director of the Centre for Asian and Pacific law at the University of Sydney’s law school said that the sex ban for unmarried couples is unlikely to affect tourists.
The controversial reforms of the colonial-era penal code have left some in the tourism industry worried. As the tourism sector is still recovering from the pandemic, travellers may be deterred from visiting.
Earlier, Indonesian President Joko Widodo approved the revision which will apply to both citizens and foreigners in the country, including tourists, reported NHK World.
People who violate the law will face up to a year in prison or a fine. The code also prohibits unmarried couples from living together. Some local authorities have cracked down on sex outside marriage, such as raids on hotels.
The national government says under the code, local authorities are not free to do so, meaning the code will be protecting everyone, including foreign tourists. Only the families of those involved will be able to alert authorities.
The law threatens to scare tourists and investors, even before it comes into effect in three years.
