It is often said that “travel broadens the mind”—yet this doesn’t explain the hordes of small-minded tourists fiercely competing for the title “Imbecile of the Year” at Canggu in Bali.
Foreigners have been misbehaving to various degrees in Indonesia since the colonial era. While it’s fashionable to say, “tourists must respect and follow the local culture”, it’s inadvisable to get into the spirit of littering, corruption, deforestation, and dangerous driving. Instead, here’s a look at 10 areas where foreigners cross the line of acceptable etiquette.
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Public Nudity
Balinese women generally used to be topless until the Dutch urged them to cover up during the early 20th century. Efforts by attention-seeking tourists, known as ‘influencers’, to revive this aspect of Balinese culture have not been embraced. Alina Fazleeva from Russia was deported in 2022 for posting nude photos of herself by an old tree in Bali’s Tabanan district. “Trashy tourist. Go home!” was typical of the online chorus of moral outrage—after the images had been enjoyed. Similarly, some men have been deported for posing naked in the Balinese mountains.
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Making Porn
Indonesia criminalised pornography in 2008, but that hasn’t stopped plenty of foreigners from making porn in Indonesia, especially Only Fans-style content. Those who end up in trouble with the law typically make the mistake of advertising a live stream from Indonesia or courting attention before leaving the country. In at least one case, a foreign man was jailed for filming himself having sex with an Indonesian porn actress in Jakarta. More prominently, British porn star Bonnie Blue was deported from Bali in late 2025 after being driven around in a ‘Bang Bus’ utility vehicle with young men on the back.
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Narcotics
Indonesia has executed over 20 foreigners for trafficking drugs, and imprisoned many more for use and possession. The new Criminal Code reduces the likelihood of death sentences for drugs being enforced, as probation can be granted after serving 10 years. Foreigners who are stupid and boring enough to need narcotics for a good time can find plenty of like-minded friends in tourism and metropolitan hubs, as well as in local prisons.
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Mosque Interlopers
When still fast asleep at 4.30 AM, some foreign visitors fail to appreciate being awakened by the competing calls to prayer from the loudspeakers of nearby mosques. In 2023, an Australian man staying at a hotel in Bandung, West Java, stormed into a mosque early on a Friday morning, swore about the noise, and spat onto the face of the local imam. He could have faced 14 months in jail, but an administrative solution was reached, and he was deported. In February 2026, a New Zealand woman interrupted a mosque recitation during Ramadan in Gili Trawangan, Lombok, by threatening locals and damaging a microphone. She was subsequently deported.
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Drunk & Disorderly
Drunken brawls among foreign tourists make for popular viewing when filmed and uploaded to social media. Australians and Eastern Europeans are often the star performers. Problems start when inebriated tourists decide to pick a fight with locals. Mobs will often materialise, and the pugnacious foreigner may need to be rescued by authorities. In 2023, a young Australian man was arrested in conservative Aceh province after going on a naked rampage and attacking locals. He avoided jail time and a public flogging by following the time-honoured ‘compensation’ route.
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Call Centre Scammers
Indonesia remains a magnet for foreign scammers, many of whom arrive on tourist visas. There are British, Chinese, and Nigerian networks that operate call-centre boiler rooms. The workers target foreign victims (to avoid violating Indonesian law) and trick the latter out of their money by various methods, such as pushing worthless stocks, romance scams, crypto pitches, advance-fee scams, and blackmail. One well-connected scam centre boss claims he is immune to prosecution due to protection.
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Visa Violations
Some tourists who enjoy life in Indonesia opt to work there illegally, commonly as English teachers, fitness instructors, and diving guides. Many manage to stay under the radar for years, doing regular visa runs to Singapore or Malaysia. When foreigners overstay, they can be fined Rp1,000,000 per day. This is usually capped at 60 days, meaning that if you overstay beyond 60 days, you don’t get hit with an enormous cumulative fine. Instead, you will most likely be detained by immigration, then deported and blacklisted. The duration of detention may depend on your funds and any support from your embassy.
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Traffic Violations
Bali is swarming with pea-brained foreigners who think it’s cool to ride a motorbike without a helmet and often without appropriate footwear or a driving licence. To drive legally in Indonesia, a foreign tourist should have a valid licence from their home country and an international driving permit, which must match the vehicle type being used (car or motorbike). Longer stayers can get an Indonesian licence. Good insurance is also advisable, so you can spare your relatives the misery of setting up a GoFundMe page after you have a serious accident.
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Accommodation Swindles
You see a fellow tourist promoting a villa or luxury resort with prices that seem too good to be true. Rental scams are common, where a deposit is paid up-front for a property the agent does not control or own. Well-heeled tourists can avoid such risk by staying at Indonesia’s most exclusive luxury resorts, often in locations so remote they require seaplanes or charter boats to reach. These properties charge thousands of dollars a night while paying their local staff comparatively little, turning the setup into a form of exploitation—where the tourist overpays, and the locals see few benefits.
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Entitlement Arrogance
“I am a Westerner; you Indonesians have less money, and your country looks less developed than mine. Therefore, I am superior to you and will talk down to you.” Sadly, this sort of ingrained racism persists among some tourists, who think they deserve special treatment or that raising their voice will make them more right or get them what they want faster. While Indonesians are among the politest people on the planet, vehemently disrespecting local customs can backfire, especially when disputes escalate.