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THE GOVERNOR of Bali, Wayan Koster, conveyed an official statement that he ensured that the article that caused a polemic in the new Criminal Code (KUHP) actually guaranteed the privacy of tourists.
“Based on the provisions in force in the new Criminal Code, tourists who visit Bali or are already in Bali need not worry at all about the entry into force of the Criminal Code, because the new provisions are even better, thus guaranteeing everyone’s privacy and comfort,” he said. in the official Public Relations of the Provincial Government of Bali, Monday (12/12).
Based on the results of Governor Koster’s meeting with a number of tourism elements in Jayasabha, Denpasar, it was stated that so far the government and people of Bali have always respected the arrival and presence of tourists, including their privacy.
He added that both foreign and domestic tourists were always served professionally, politely, and communicatively in the implementation of Balinese cultural tourism which was based on Sad Kerthi’s local wisdom.
“The government and the people of Bali are developing tourism based on Balinese culture which originates from Sad Kerthi’s cultural values and local wisdom and is based on Balinese taksu as stipulated in the Bali Provincial Regulation Number 5 of 2020 concerning Standards for Implementing Balinese Cultural Tourism,” he said.
However, since the inauguration of the new Criminal Code by the Indonesian Parliament on Tuesday (6/12) a number of reports have appeared which have caused anxiety for Bali tourism, such as news about the cancellation of flights to Bali from Australia, to the issue of tightening travel to Indonesia.
Koster explained that the new Criminal Code, especially article 411 which regulates adultery and article 412 which regulates living together as husband and wife outside of marriage, has only been in force for three years since it was ratified, and actually does not specifically regulate premarital sexual relations.
“These two provisions do not qualify as general offenses where the perpetrators can immediately be arrested and or prosecuted, but are complaint offenses which can only be prosecuted if someone complains,” he remarked.
Those who can file complaints have been regulated in the new Criminal Code, namely husbands or wives for people who are bound by marriage or parents or children for people who are not bound by marriage.
The number one person in the Provincial Government of Bali said that this provision was actually nothing new, in the previous Criminal Code, the punishment for similar cases had been regulated in Article 284, and until now it had never caused any problems for tourists, including disturbing the privacy of tourists visiting or staying in Bali.
Apart from that, the Provincial Government of Bali also ensures that there will be no marital status checks when checking in at tourist accommodations, such as hotels, villas, apartments, guest houses, cottages and spas.
Likewise with sweeping actions or checking marital status by law enforcement officials and by community groups, as well as guaranteeing the confidentiality of tourist data staying at tourist accommodation.
“The Provincial Government of Bali ensures that there are no policy changes related to the enactment of the new Criminal Code and ensures the comfort and privacy of tourists through the implementation of quality and dignified Bali tourism,” said the governor.
With this official statement, Koster awaits the arrival of tourists and hopes that they will not hesitate to visit Bali, because Bali is the same as before which is said to be comfortable and safe to visit.
“The reports through various media stating that there have been flight cancellations and cancellations of hotel room bookings are incorrect. Data from travel business actors, tourist accommodation and airlines, in fact, the number of tourists and airlines to Bali from December 2022 to March 2023 tends to increased,” he corrected.
With this data, Wayan Koster appealed to all parties to be wiser in issuing statements so that the new Criminal Code does not disrupt tourism on the Island of the Gods. [antaranews/photo special]
