The Baduy Traditional Institution in Lebak Regency, Banten, has officially banned foreigners, including foreign tourists, from entering the Inner Baduy (Baduy Dalam) area as well as Gajeboh Village in Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar District.
This customary policy was announced by the Head of Kanekes Village, Oom. He explained that the decision was made following a meeting of the Baduy Traditional Council previously held on the 6th and 13th of September. According to Oom, this prohibition is a form of respect for the sacred Baduy territory. Furthermore, the village aims to maintain customary order in the Baduy area.
“The Customary Institution mandates that foreigners are not allowed to enter Gajeboh. The furthest they can go is Kaduketug Villages One, Two, and Three,” said Oom to the press on Friday, the 3rd of October.
He also explained that the ban on foreigners entering the Inner Baduy region has actually been in effect for a long time. However, this new regulation expands the prohibited area to Gajeboh Village, which is part of the Outer Baduy region.
“Gajeboh Village directly borders Inner Baduy, so it is also prohibited. This is a form of respect for the sacred area and to maintain customary order,” continued Oom.
The Inner Baduy region encompasses three main villages: Cibeo, Cikartawana, and Cikeusik. Meanwhile, in the Outer Baduy region, only Gajeboh Village is currently closed to foreigners.
“For other villages in the Outer Baduy region, foreign tourists are still permitted to visit, provided they are accompanied by a local Baduy guide or an Indonesian guide,” added Oom.
Farid Surawan, Head of the Creative Economy Division of the Lebak Regency Culture and Tourism Office, confirmed that his office had received a notification letter regarding this ban from the Head of Kanekes Village. To support the implementation of this regulation, he stated that his office would immediately conduct outreach to prospective tourists.
“We must comply with this regulation. The Baduy Traditional Institution has its own customary regulations in its region, and we must respect them,” Surawan underscored.
The Inner Baduy area is often a tourist destination and a subject of historical research in Banten Province. The Inner Baduy natives live deep in the forest and remain isolated, untouched by outside cultures. They are renowned for their strict adherence to ancestral traditions and rejection of modernisation, as they live in harmony with nature and uphold the values of simplicity. Legend has it that the name “Baduy” was first given by the Banten Sultanate government centuries ago to the native Banten people who were reluctant to accept Islamic teachings.