Brits safe as ‘Bali bonking ban’ won’t apply to tourists

A new law coming into effect in Indonesia which is banning sex before marriage will not apply to tourists, officials have confirmed.

Dubbed the 'Bali bonking ban' after one of the nation's most popular tourist hotspots, holidaygoers will be pleased to know that they aren't going to be facing prison time for getting down and dirty with someone special.

This has become an issue since Indonesia made the decision to ban sex before marriage, with people found to be getting it on before they tie the knot potentially facing up to a year in prison.

Meanwhile, even if there is no doing the do between unmarried couples, they could still spend months behind bars just for living together.

The United Nations has raised concerns that the new package of legal measures threatens human rights in Indonesia, but the Pacific nation insists the laws will uphold 'Indonesian values'.

Elena Ermakova / Alamy Stock Photo

There had been initial worries that the ban on unmarried couples having sex or living in the same residence would apply to tourists, but Indonesian officials have said they will be exempt.

Indonesian officials insist visitors won't be asked about their marital status when they enter the country and they will also not face prosecution for breaking the incoming laws banning premarital sex.

Bali governor Wayan Koster insisted the tourist hotspot remained a place which was 'comfortable and safe to be visited'.

Indonesia, and Bali in particular, is a popular tourist destination with the nation racking up more than 16 million overseas visitors in pre-pandemic times.

The ban on sex before marriage has not yet come into effect, as it is still three years away from being signed into law.

CBuchananstock / Alamy Stock Photo

A ban on sex before marriage will also require a close family member to report the relationship before the police take action, making it even less likely for a tourist to get in trouble for it.

While it is the sex ban which has grabbed most attention, for reasons we surely can't fathom, the new raft of repressive laws contains some serious scary bits of legislation.

Among the other laws being enacted, it will become a crime to criticise the president and vice president of Indonesia.

In addition to trying not to scare away tourists with the prospect of up to a year in prison, Indonesia is hoping to entice freelancers to live there permanently with the promise of a tax-free status with the aim of bringing in 3.6 million foreigners.