TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) Bali Secretary I Nyoman Subrata asked the government to immediately provide an explanation about articles related to sex outside of marriage and cohabitation in the new criminal code to foreign tourists.

The ratification of the revised law has drawn polemics among the community, including tourism players and foreign tourists. It is feared that those articles will make foreigners hesitate to visit Indonesia.

“In our opinion, before these articles are issued, there should be a narrative that provides explanations to foreign tourists when they have questions or authority who can provide these explanations,” said Subrata on Friday, December 9, 2022.

According to him, the explanation can give confidence to foreign tourists who are likely to be cautious about visiting Bali recently.

“[Explanation about] articles that are considered to have a good purpose so that they are not stirred up. Moreover, Bali succeeds in hosting G20. There are surely competitors of Bali and Indonesia who want to take advantage of the articles in this criminal code,” Subrata opined.

He expressed confidence that the number of foreign tourist visits will not decline if there are clear explanations about the new law from the government and tourism stakeholders.

Asita Bali recorded that before the new penal code is passed, there were 9,000 passengers using domestic and international flights registered per day at I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport. During the year-end holiday season, the number of passengers may reach 16,000 per day.

Under the new criminal code that was passed on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, sex outside marriage will be punishable by one year in prison or a fine of Rp10 million, and cohabitation by six months or a fine of Rp10 million.

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno explained that the articles related to adultery and cohabitation are delik aduan, or complaint offenses. This means the articles cannot be applied unless a close member of the family reports the matter to the police. “So that in practice, it doesn't directly affect all tourists visiting [Indonesia],” he remarked.

ANTARA

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