Indonesian tourism practitioners are still working to recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, now that the country's parliament has passed a new law, some fears that it may re-shelves tourists as extramarital sex will be considered illegal.
The law also prohibits unmarried partners from living together, restricting political and religious freedoms, which critics call human rights "disaster". After the law was passed, protests occurred in Jakarta . If nothing unexpected happens, the law may face constitutional scrutiny.
Indonesia is the world's largest Islamic country. Although it is relatively secular, the political trends have become increasingly conservative in recent years. The ban aims to eliminate unethical behaviors such as marriage cheating and sexual transactions.
New Criminal Law will come into effect within three years and apply to Indonesians and foreigners living in the country, including tourists. Under the new law, unmarried couples found having sex can be imprisoned for up to one year, while couples living together can be imprisoned for up to six months.
There is no doubt that this will hit Indonesia's tourism industry hard, especially the country's resort Bali . This place attracts a large number of couples and couples to go on vacation every year, most of which are tourists from East Asia, , Western Europe, , and Australia. The authorities have realized the impact of the law on Indonesia's tourism industry, and a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice also said tourists should not worry. However, it will undoubtedly cause concerns about "selective" law enforcement.
This is an era of globalization. Although the customs and cultures of different countries are different, there is no doubt that relevant laws should respect human rights and human nature to adapt to the changes of the times. Only in this way can we get opportunities for development. Indonesia should learn from Singapore, which has already lifted the ban on same-sex behavior, and move against the trend, hindering ideas and being self-confidant will eventually lead to backwardness.
