Indonesia’s new criminal code outlawing sex outside marriage and potentially curbing free speech will apply to citizens and foreigners in the country, spurring uncertainty among tourists and expatriates.
Critics have decried that the new laws infringe on people’s personal lives and attempts to prevent criticism of the government, a setback for the country’s democracy that could mar its investment climate. The law could also deter foreign travel, which may undermine economic recovery in tourism-reliant places like Bali that are just rebounding since the pandemic.
