To preserve the mountains’ holiness, Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster, has put an emergency ban on tourism activity there. This choice was made in response to an increase in visitor misbehaviour, which has led to worries about Bali’s cherished natural areas being harmed. Governor Koster emphasised the significance of maintaining the sacredness of these mountains and stated that to do so would be to diminish Bali’s holiness.
Bali’s tourism chief, Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, supported the ban and assured that local mountain guides would be offered opportunities as contract workers to ensure their livelihoods. The ban encompasses popular activities such as mountain climbing and hiking, affecting foreign and domestic tourists, as well as local residents. Governor Koster emphasized that the ban is permanent, except for religious ceremonies and handling natural disasters.
Although specific penalties for violating the new rules were not disclosed, authorities have already taken action against groups of foreigners, deporting them and imposing six-month bans on their re-entry into Indonesia. Bali, known as the “island of the Gods,” has faced challenges with misbehaving tourists, prompting Governor Koster to crack down on illegal activities and safety concerns.
The ban extends to all 22 mountains in Bali and remains in effect indefinitely, effectively restricting climbers’ access. Recent incidents, such as the filming of a pornographic video on Mount Batur and a semi-nude photo taken by a tourist on Mount Agung, have fueled the need for stricter regulations. Despite participation in a religious ceremony and issuing a public apology, the offending tourist was deported and banned from entering Indonesia for at least six months.