Authorities in Bali, Indonesia have unveiled a brand new coverage banning “menstruating vacationers” from getting into temples over considerations that “soiled” interval blood will contaminate their holy websites.
This unorthodox regulation is included in a listing of insurance policies the tropical island’s governor, Wayan Koster, imposed on March 24 to clamp down on “misbehaving vacationers” overrunning the paradise, per a report from Metro.
“I’m implementing this round as a direct measure to control overseas vacationers whereas they’re in Bali,” declared the honcho.
Below the brand new guidelines, ladies could be prohibited from getting into Balinese temples whereas on their interval out of concern that menstrual plasma is “soiled” and would “make the temple develop into impure,” Go to Bali reported.
In response to tales handed down from “era to era, there are unfavorable results if you’re decided to enter the temple throughout menstruation,” the location warns. “Many ladies expertise ache and faint whereas within the temple. Reportedly, there are additionally mystical occasions that may befall menstruating ladies in temples, reminiscent of possession.”
And it wasn’t simply the menstruating ladies who have been affected, per the location, which declared that “residents across the temple could possibly be affected by pure disasters and ailments” prompted by a interval.
“If you’re menstruating whereas on vacation in Bali, don’t fear!” they concluded. “There are a lot of different leisure spots across the temple, reminiscent of watching conventional dance performances.”
They didn’t specify how they plan to verify whether or not a lady is on her interval.
These weren’t the one guidelines unveiled to protect the “cultural integrity and sacred websites” on the bulk Hindu island.
The rules mandate that guests ought to “gown appropriately when visiting temples, vacationer sights, or public areas,” and gained’t be permitted to “enter sacred temple areas until they’re worshippers carrying conventional Balinese apparel,” Timeout reported.
Different prohibited behaviors, per the brand new mandate, embrace utilizing single-use plastics like plastic baggage and straws, being impolite to locals, swearing and littering.
To implement these legal guidelines, Bali has shaped a particular process drive whose job it’s to watch guests and punish “naughty” violators with penalties starting from fines to jail time.
“We issued an analogous regulation earlier than, however as issues change, we have to adapt,” introduced Koster. “This ensures that Bali’s tourism stays respectful, sustainable, and in concord with our native values.”
“Bali is a ravishing, sacred island, and we count on our visitors to point out the identical respect that we lengthen to them,” he added.
In February 2024, Bali launched a vacationer charge, charging worldwide vacationers 150,000 rupiah ($10) to enter the island by way of Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport in Denpasar or any of the island’s ports, the Day by day Mail reported.
The federal government goals to make use of the entree charge — and sure the aforementioned fines for rulebreakers — to guard the surroundings of Bali, which is predicted to see between 14 and 16 million guests this yr.
These guidelines come amid a rash of incidents involving unruly vacationers, together with an incident in 2023 the place a foreigner was noticed meditating bare at a Hindu temple.
Earlier this month, a Norwegian vacationer had his customer visa revoked after he was caught climbing a cultural and non secular website and not using a information.
Bali isn’t the one journey vacation spot imposing measures to curb the worldwide tour-nami.
Final January, officers in Venice, Italy introduced insurance policies to restrict giant vacationer teams within the sinking metropolis, as a part of a marketing campaign to curb congestion on the customarily slim streets and waterways of the historic hotspot.
In the meantime, Spain attracted a file 94 million vacationers final yr, stoking complaints about “overtourism, ” together with considerations about overcrowding, water use, and significantly the provision and affordability of housing.
In response, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rolled out a 12-part plan to deal with the housing disaster, with measures aimed toward bringing stricter laws to short-term leases that primarily cater to vacationers.
