Australians say they will still go to Bali despite crackdown on what they wear

Australians have reacted after Bali announced it will get tough on how tourists dress and behave. Have your say.

Australians say they would still travel to Bali even if the island paradise gets tough on skimpy clothes and lewd behaviour.

Tourists are the target of a new education campaign on how to dress and act appropriately when in Bali.

A poll of News Corp readers found 67 per cent said the move did not put them off the popular holiday destination, while 27 per cent said it did and just six per cent were undecided.

Many Australians were even supportive of the measure.

“Go Bali. You deserve to have your tourists respect your nation, and to just be plain respectful in general. I wish we could get our beach goers to show more respect and less bare bum cheeks to everyone who has the misfortune of sharing a stretch of beach,” one supporter said.

Another agreed: “It’s actually not a problem on the beach or around the pool but it is out on the streets, in shopping centres, around temples … it is plainly disrespectful and ignorant.”

Bali Tourism Board chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana said they’re currently in the “socialisation” phase of the new campaign that would involve billboards.

Bali officials are getting tough on what tourists wear. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Adnyana also announced plans to collaborate with social media influencers, tourism stakeholders, e-commerce businesses, and international content creators to publicise the new project.

“We are assigned by the government, in this case, the Bali Tourism Office, to prepare socialisation in the form of writing and visuals. However, we have to start with some kind of appeal at several points,” Mr Adnyana said, according to The Bali Sun.

“The point is for tourists to respect the cultural customs of the Balinese by dressing well … and being orderly in carrying out traffic activities.”

The crackdown on “dressing well” could be taken as a stab at some of the lewd behaviour some tourists get up to in the tropical Indonesian idyll, with many not understanding the conservative culture by wearing skimpy clothes — or going topless — especially around sacred temples.

Road rules and use of hired scooters by tourists is also an issue for locals. Picture: Getty Images

At least 10 large billboards will be installed with English instructions and advice plastered over them, but the government anticipates replicating these in other languages once they’ve had a chance to measure the impact of the English-language signs.

The billboards and public awareness campaign materials will be put at strategic locations in Denpasar Regency and Gianyar Regency.

This would cover all of the island’s most popular resort destinations, including Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu.

“Indeed, we are ‘welcoming’ and accept everything. Guests are king but don’t abuse,” Mr Adnyana said.

“It is better people are advised from their own people so that we are not black-listed and troubled in other people's countries. It is much better if those who advise from their own people.”

The proposal has been tabled and officials are now awaiting public feedback.

The announcement comes just days after the provincial government confirmed that they had launched a dedicated task force to crack down on foreigners working illegally on the island.

Originally published as Australians say they will still go to Bali despite crackdown on what they wear