Bali to allow bikinis in designated tourist areas
Taylor Smith
Indonesian lawmakers have made a decision to not ban bikinis at beaches in their mostly Muslim nation, according to comments by an MP.
The decision is sure to be popular in Indonesia’s tourism industry, which had earlier expressed concern regarding an anti-pornography bill sponsored by conservative Muslim lawmakers.
“Tourists will be able to wear bikinis in special tourist areas, such as in Bali, so Indonesia’s tourism industry won’t be hurt by this legislation,” a Democrat Party lawmaker, Husein Abdul Azis, said to the AFP.
“We are listening to the protests of stakeholders and people at large,” the MP added, alluding to concerns among tourist operators that the industry would suffer if bikinis were outlawed.
Many Bali residents, including artists, entrepreneurs, politicians and rights activists on the predominantly Hindu island insisted that they would not comply with the provisions in the pornography bill if it were passed.
Azis, who is a member of the committee responsible for drafting the bill, commented that significant changes were made to the earlier version, in order to eliminate any problems.
Lawmakers have said that the bill could be passed by the end of this month.
Thanks to www.travelmole.com for the quotes above, for more information on this article please visit their website.
www.indonesia-tourism.com
Source: http://news.carrentals.co.uk/
Add comment October 22nd, 2008