01 Why this became a formal issue
Over the past several years, Bali has seen a genuine rise in local frustration directed at a visible minority of tourists behaving disrespectfully — climbing sacred trees and monuments for photos, disregarding temple dress codes, riding scooters without licences or shirts, and general disregard for local customs. This frustration led to the Bali provincial government formalising a tourist code of conduct in 2023, alongside more visible enforcement of existing rules that had previously been loosely applied.
02 What the formal code covers
The code addresses respect for sacred sites and religious ceremonies (see our temple etiquette guide for the specific expectations), appropriate dress at temples and in public generally, prohibitions on entering sacred areas without proper attire, restrictions on working without appropriate visas, and general environmental responsibility including littering. Much of this formalises expectations that were already culturally understood but not previously codified into an explicit visitor code.
03 Enforcement in practice
Enforcement has become more visible in specific areas — sacred site access (particularly Mount Agung and Mount Batur, where climbing outside designated hiking paths or approaching certain areas without proper ceremonial context is prohibited), traffic and licensing rules (see our car and scooter rental guide for current requirements), and immigration compliance for anyone working without appropriate visa status. Several high-profile deportations of tourists behaving disrespectfully at sacred sites have been widely publicised, reflecting genuinely increased enforcement rather than just rhetorical policy.
04 What this actually means for ordinary visitors
For the vast majority of respectful visitors, none of this represents a meaningful change to how you'd naturally want to behave — dress appropriately at temples, don't climb on sacred structures, hold a proper licence if riding a scooter, and treat local customs with genuine respect. See our etiquette guide and first time in Bali guide for the practical specifics. The formal code and increased enforcement target a specific pattern of disrespectful behaviour rather than creating new burdens for visitors already travelling thoughtfully.