3-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Authorities in the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali have launched a search for a foreign national who was captured on a viral video meditating naked at a Hindu shrine. The incident has sparked widespread attention on the predominantly Hindu island, prompting authorities to crack down on misbehaving tourists and acts that disrespect the local culture.
The video was reposted multiple times by Balinese influencer Ni Luh Djelantik over the weekend, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. The Bali Immigration Office is currently conducting investigations into the incident, according to a statement from Immigration Office head Tedy Riyandi.
While the foreign national has been identified by authorities, their name and nationality have not been disclosed publicly as the search continues. Efforts are being made to contact the individual through their social media account, but there has been no response thus far.
The Bali police are coordinating with the Immigration Office in the search and are working to determine the precise location and time of the incident. Bali, heavily dependent on tourism, welcomes millions of foreign visitors each year. However, since the island reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been several high-profile cases involving tourists engaging in lewd acts, resulting in deportation.
In June, a Danish woman was deported after a video emerged of her flashing the public while riding a motorbike. Similarly, a Russian woman was expelled from the island in April for posting a nude photo of herself in front of a sacred tree.
In response to these incidents, the local government published a guide for tourists visiting Bali, following pressure from the immigration office. The guide aims to educate tourists about the cultural norms and sensitivities of the island in order to promote respectful behavior and preserve the local heritage.
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