Bali is urging tourists not to panic about an anticipated new law that could jail people for having sex outside marriage — including tourists.

Bali is urging tourists not to panic about an anticipated new law that could jail people for having sex outside marriage — including tourists.

Amendments to Indonesia’s criminal code, revealed last week, would make extramarital sex illegal and punishable with jail time — and there would be no exception made for holiday-makers, including the one million Australians who visited Bali every year.

The update comes after Australia updated its travel advice for Indonesia and warned tourists could soon be charged for having sex outside marriage.
But the Bali Hotels Association is now telling tourists to “stay calm and continue their activities as usual”.