Indonesian authorities on Monday downplayed concerns about a new law criminalizing sex outside marriage, saying foreign tourists would not be charged as the impact on vital tourism is expected to escalate.
The Southeast Asian country’s parliament passed legislation last week that approves jail terms of up to one year for anyone caught having sex outside marriage in Indonesia.
Cohabitation by unmarried couples can also lead to a jail term of six months.
Businesses have expressed concern that a comprehensive overhaul of the criminal code would be detrimental to tourism in Indonesia, which received more than 16 million visitors in 2019.
But Deputy Law and Human Rights Minister Edward Omar Sharif Heiress dismissed those concerns on Monday, saying the foreigners would not be prosecuted.
“I want to emphasize for foreign tourists, please come to Indonesia as you will not be charged for this article,” Hiarij told reporters.
He added that extramarital sex and cohabitation offenses would only be prosecuted if reported by the spouse, parent or child, while adultery was already illegal under the previous criminal code.
In the holiday hotspot of Bali, Governor Wayne Koster also tried to allay fears about the law, saying local authorities would not check the marital status of tourists.
He said in a statement that Bali would not make any “policy changes” related to the new criminal code.
“Bali is Bali as always, comfortable and safe to travel in,” Koster said.
“There will be no checking of marital status at check-in at any tourist accommodation … nor inspection by public officials or community groups.”
The new criminal code still needs to be approved by President Joko Widodo and will not come into force for three years.
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