Bali Unveils New Tourist Guidelines: What You Need to Know Before You Go!

Planning a Trip to Bali? Take Note of the New Travel Rules

If Bali is on your travel list, it’s essential to be aware of the new regulations recently announced by Bali’s Governor I Wayan Koster. These rules aim to preserve the island’s cultural heritage, maintain respectful conduct among visitors, and ensure sustainable tourism.

Key Updates for Tourists Visiting Bali

On March 24, 2025, Governor I Wayan Koster introduced a series of guidelines targeting tourist behaviour and cultural sensitivity, just days ahead of Nyepi, Bali’s sacred Day of Silence observed on March 29. During Nyepi, the entire island, including tourists, is required to remain indoors for 24 hours.

The new directives highlight the importance of respect when visiting Bali’s temples and sacred places. Tourists must adhere to specific dress codes and behavioural norms designed to protect the island’s spiritual sites and maintain harmony with local traditions. A notable regulation prohibits menstruating women from entering certain religious areas, reflecting longstanding cultural beliefs.

Governor Koster emphasized adapting rules to changing circumstances to sustain Bali’s tourism in a respectful and culturally aligned manner. “We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change, we need to adapt. This ensures that Bali’s tourism remains respectful, sustainable, and in harmony with our local values,” he said.

What Tourists Should Avoid

Visitors to Bali must wear modest clothing and exhibit respectful behaviour not only at religious sites but also in public spaces, restaurants, and shopping areas. Prohibited actions include swearing, causing disturbances, and disrespect toward residents, officials, or other tourists.

The new regulations also forbid sharing hate speech or misinformation about Bali on social media. Tourists are expected to honour Balinese customs and cultural practices, especially during ceremonies.

Entry to sacred temple areas is restricted to worshippers dressed in traditional Balinese attire, excluding foreign tourists. Besides the ban on menstruating women entering these sacred spaces, tourists are not allowed to climb on sacred trees or monuments or take inappropriate or nude photographs on temple grounds.

Additional restrictions include mandatory use of licensed guides, staying only at approved accommodations, following traffic regulations, and exchanging currency at authorized outlets. Bali introduced a one-time entry fee of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (approximately €9) for international visitors starting February 2025; failure to pay this fee will result in denial of access to attractions. There is also a proposal to introduce a daily tourist tax similar to Bhutan’s $100 Sustainable Development Fee.

To protect the environment, Bali has banned single-use plastics such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, plastic straws, and drinks packaged in plastic containers.

Governor Koster warned of strict enforcement, stating, “We have prepared a special team to conduct an operation. Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly.”

Bali Joins a Global Trend of Tourist Behaviour Regulations

Bali’s new measures reflect a worldwide pattern of managing tourism impacts. For instance, Prague banned organised nighttime pub crawls in October 2024 to reduce noise and public disorder. Italy has introduced regulations limiting crowd sizes on beaches and curbing selfie-taking in sensitive historical locations to address overtourism.

Moreover, Indonesia has taken a significant step by suspending the construction of new hotels, villas, and nightclubs in certain Bali tourist zones since September 2024. This moratorium aims to prevent environmental degradation and preserve the island’s natural and cultural integrity by controlling overdevelopment.

Conclusion

With Bali’s rising popularity as a travel destination, these new rules are part of ongoing efforts to balance tourism growth with cultural preservation and environmental sustainability. Visitors planning a trip to the island should thoroughly familiarize themselves with these regulations to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience in one of the world’s most cherished tropical paradises.